Watt Kenneth (Kenny) Baker
Watt Kenneth (Kenny) Baker
February 6, 1934 — March 12, 2019
Watt Kenneth (Kenny) Baker graduated from the flesh on March 12, 2019. He passed peacefully after being bed ridden for a few days. Kenny was born Feb. 6, 1934, to Lola Mae Reed and Samuel Lynn Baker Sr. of Burnet County-Joppa, Bertram area. He grew up as a middle child of 12 children, graduating with honors (it was an honor that he graduated) from Bertram High School in 1953. He married Ollie Ann Rippy from Smithwick on June 1, 1955. They made their home and raised their children in Smithwick. Kenny spent 30 years as an Asbestos worker, driving every day to either Austin or Fort Hood to apply his trade. He was diagnosed with Asbestosis in 1981, and considered it a gracious act that he could live another 38 years. In 1983 he was elected as a Burnet County commissioner of Precinct 3 and served in that capacity for 3 terms. He retired in 1993.
Kenny is preceded in death by his parents and by his youngest son, Leslie Elroy. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ollie Ann. He is also survived by his children, Sandra Sue Lilly Kloman and husband Whitney, Kenneth Linvel Baker and wife Shirley, Elizabeth Ann Kuhn, and Lauris Lynn Baker and wife Cheryl. He lost his youngest son, Leslie, in 1975 at the age of 10 to Hodgkins lymphoma cancer.
He is survived by six grandchildren and spouses, Whitney Kay Goble and husband Andis, grandson Kaleb Lane Baker, Kendra Lauren Hopkins and husband Joseph, Taylor Brent Baker, Shelby Lynn Baker and fiancé Lance Taylor, and Wyatt Blackston. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, Angela, Katie, McKenzy, Makayla and Paxton Goble, Baker and Bennett Hopkins, and Cayden Taylor.
Kenny loved to hunt and fish. He particularly enjoyed years of varmint hunting with Gary Hulsey and spent many days on Lake Travis catching catfish. He did not like yard, garden or house work but loved to barbecue, goat being his specialty. Kenny was a 60-year member of the Smithwick Church of Christ. Ollie Ann embalmed him with 63 years of Nutrilite (Amway) vitamins!
Visitation will be Friday, March 15, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Smithwick Church of Christ. Funeral service will be Saturday, March 16, at 11 a.m., also at the Smithwick Church of Christ, with burial at the Smithwick Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Kaleb Baker, grandson; Taylor Baker, grandson; Wyatt Baker, grandson; T.J. Dodd, nephew; Jeff Dodd, nephew; Scooter Rippy, nephew; Troy Troupe, nephew; Mark Troupe, nephew. Honorary Pallbearers are Andis Goble, grandson-in-law; Joseph Hopkins, grandson-in-law; Lance Taylor, grandson-in-law; and Jeff Williams, family friend.
Online condolences may be made at dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/marble-falls-tx/clements-wilcox-funeral-home/1798.
