Walter L. "Butch" Baker, 86, of Presidents Square in Evans City, went to his eternal resting place Saturday. His final days were spent under the care of the Good Samaritan Hospice House, Wexford.

Born Jan. 22, 1921, in Cream City, Jefferson County, Ohio, he was the son of Friend and Edna Jane Barker Baker.

He was a 1939 graduate of Zelienople High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served from 1940 to 1945, 37 months of which was in Europe and North Africa during World War II. He attained the rank of group sergeant major of the 521st Air Service Group, 8th and 12th Air Forces. He received a Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with four Bronze Stars.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 474. He also was a 54-year member of the Harmony Lodge 429 F&AM.

Mr. Baker had been director of purchasing and traffic manager at the Universal Manufacturing Corp. in Zelienople for 37 years and retired in 1985.

He served 20 years on Zelienople Borough Council. He also served 20 years on the Zelienople Area Public Library Association, where he was president for several years and was fundraising chairman at the time the present library building was built. He served the Boy Scouts 18 years on the local and district levels and also served on the Chamber of Commerce and the Community Chest.

He was a former member of the English Lutheran Church of Zelienople, where he belonged for more than 61 years and served several terms as president of the church council. Most recently, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Evans City, and was baptized along with his wife in December 2004.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, D. Jane Braughler Baker; two daughters, Mrs. Glenn (Candice L). Follen of San Antonio, Texas, and Mrs. Thomas (Carrie S.) Franz of Portersville; four grandchildren, Regan Follen Harris, Damon Follen and Tai and Ian Brown; and three great-grandchildren, Max and Morgan Harris and Harper Follen.

A daughter, Cynthia Baker, died in 1955.

<B>BAKER</B> — A service in memory of Walter L. "Butch" Baker, who died Saturday, March 24, 2007, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church, 242 S. Washington St., Evans City, with the Rev. Jeffrey Mackey officiating.A time of fellowship will follow in Hirschy Hall.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Hospice, 3500 Brooktree Road, Suite 320, Wexford, PA 15090.Arrangements are being handled by the A. Carl Kinsey-Ronald N. Volz Funeral Home, Inc., Evans City; and information also available at www.kinsev-volzfuneralhome.com.