Walter Baker Jr

On October 8th, the earthly angels caring for Walter L. Baker, Jr. gave way to the care of the heavenly angels who came to take him Home. Mr. Baker was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 4, 1919, the son of Walter L. Baker, Sr. and Eleanor Heacock Baker. Soon after, the Bakers moved to Talladega where Walter received his early education in the local school system. He obtained his BS Degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1941 with a major in Marketing. He furthered his education through extension courses in Electrical Engineering, Business Management and American Law Procedure, and later, completed the Public Utility Executive Short Course at Georgia Institute of Technology. Following a brief period of employment with the U.S. Army during the construction of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Mr. Baker joined Alabama Power Company as a commercial lighting engineer in Gadsden, AL. He progressed through various positions culiminating with his appointment as Market Research and Planning Manager in 1978 - the position from which he retired on August 31, 1983. In these capacities, he had a part in developing and implementing many of the Company's marketing programs and policies as well as being primarily responsible for Marketing's input to the Company's overall budgeting and forecasting processes. After retiring, he authored a history of Alabama Power Company's marketing program entitled "Milestones in Marketing." Prior to his retirement, Mr. Baker was an active member of the American Marketing Association, the American Association of Agricultural Engineers and the Exchange Club of downtown Birmingham. He was a past president of the Birmingham Chapter of the American Marketing Association. A long-time member of the Edison Electric Institute and the Southeastern Electric Exchange, he served as chairman of the Institute's Farm Sales Section, chairman of the Farm Sales Section of the Exchange, and chairman of its Market Planning Section. He was also a past president of the Electric Utility Market Research Council, an organization composed of utility market researchers throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. Baker was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Birmingham for over 60 years. He served as Church School Superintendent, Chair of the Administrative Board, Chair of the Council on Ministries, Chair of Stewardship & Finance and church Treasurer, Past President of the Birmingham Council on Christian Education (Camp Winnataska) and served on numerous charity drives. He was actively involved in the organization of the Energizer Program for retired Alabama Power Company employees. He was Chair of the Homewood Educational Building Authority and served as a member of the Executive Service Corps of Birmingham. Mr. Baker is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sara Ward Baker, his four children Walter Langford Baker III (Melinda Pate) of Nashville, TN, Eleanor Nichol (Nickie) Murphy (Fred) of Greenwood, SC, Anita Sue Baker and Robin Annette Baker, both of Birmingham. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren Brian Anthony Murphy of Birmingham, and Laura Ward Murphy of Tuscaloosa. The family wishes to thank the loving and caring earthly angels Shirley Sledge, Jan Maze, Vanessa Singleton and our many wonderful new friends from New Beacon Hospice. Following a private internment service, a memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Birmingham on Tuesday, October 12. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM with the service at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the First United Methodist Church Choir Fund or Radio Fund (518 North 19th Street, Birmingham 35203) or to the Wesley Foundation (505 9th Street, Tuscaloosa 35401) or to a charity of your choice.