Roy "Butch" Baker

A man who wasn’t afraid to live life his way and took every moment captive, Roy “Butch” Baker came into his own later in life. He did a bit of traveling through the years, but was happier at home than he was anywhere else. Life was not without times of struggle for Butch, yet he learned to tap into the strength he needed to face times of trial head on. The special times he shared with friends and loved ones will remain near and dear to their hearts.

The year 1942 found America engaged in the perils of WWII, which sent countless servicemen and women overseas to fight for the preservation of the freedoms we still enjoy today. Those who remained stateside became all too familiar with rationing on common goods such as coffee, tin, rubber, paper and sugar. Victory gardens were planted to lessen the load on the food supply while families gathered around the radio for news from the front lines. This same year a young family from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was focused on a time of great change in their lives as they were eagerly anticipating the birth of a new baby. Their wait was over on June 16th of that year when the baby boy they named Roy drew his first breath. Roy was the oldest of a blended family of seven and was welcomed into the world by his parents, Roy G. and Earline (Davis) Baker. At the time of his birth his father worked at Metal Craft while his mother was a factory worker. Butch, as he was usually known, first attended Jefferson Elementary in G.R. They moved to Grandville where he attended Emmons Elementary. Butch attended Ivanrest Christian Reformed Church, where he attended and taught Bible School. Butch liked to play both baseball and softball. His high school years found him at Grandville 10 th and 11 th grades and Kelloggsville High where he graduated in 1960. His grades were good all his years in school..

A bit later when his parents divorced, Butch lived in Wyoming with his father and step-mother. He worked at his dad’s company, B & B Plating beginning in 1958. During this time Butch met and married Ruth-Ann Waldahl in 1961 at the Free Methodist church in Kentwood MI. They moved several times at first, but eventually settled into a home on Claudia Street in Kentwood. Together they were blessed with their daughter, Jeannette, in 1963 and their son, David, in 1965. The family will never forget the times Butch took David out riding on his motorcycle to get him to fall asleep. Although his marriage to Ruth ended in divorce in 1969, the two remained friends through the years.

When his father sold his business in the early seventies and purchased a bar called the Tiki Lounge, later named People Lounge, Butch began working there as the manager. He remained there until 1988 when he began working as a driver and dispatcher for Port City and later Calder City Cabs.

In the early eighties Butch really began to embrace life. He became more outgoing and engaged in both his life and the lives of his loved ones while his focus became his family. Although he always seemed to have many friends, Butch began spending more time with them as well. He liked to play pool and poker as he could count cards and had an exceptional memory. Butch also liked to play cribbage and bingo and was a great bowler.

Shortly after his first marriage ended, Butch got to know Agnes 'Cookie' Polmanteer, and they soon began dating. They later married, and he became very close to her four children: Dennis, Denise, Paula, and Teresa. Their marriage ended in divorce after ten years.

New and exciting changes were in store for Butch when he met a woman named Judy Ferguson at the Salvation Army. She was immediately drawn to Butch’s personality and his easy going demeanor in addition to his brown eyes and unforgettable smile. They were companions for almost 20 years, living together on the northwest side of the city. Judy’s children, Ruth, April, Angel, and Scott became very close to Butch.

There were many things that enriched Butch’s life through the years. He and Judy traveled to Las Vegas on two separate occasions, but since Butch liked to stay home they never traveled much more than that. He did like to eat out at Old Country Buffet and ice cream with chocolate was one of his favorites. Butch was a sports fanatic who especially loved the Lions. He also enjoyed watching Southland and Justified on television.

When he became a grandfather Butch felt that he wasn’t old enough to be called “grandpa,” so to his grandchildren he was known as Uncle Butch. It wasn’t until they were older that they learned he was actually their grandfather. Although he wasn’t able to see them often, Butch felt a strong connection to his grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them at Christmas. He was also very proud of his grandson who is in the Marines.

In his own special way, Roy “Butch” Baker touched the lives of his friends and loved ones. He worked hard and played hard, too, and was so proud of his family. Butch will be deeply missed and warmly remembered.

Mr. Roy “Butch” Baker, aged 69, of Grand Rapids passed away Monday, April 23, 2012. He is survived by his stepmother, Mae Baker, and by his brothers, Paul Baker, Ron Thompson, Terry Thompson, John Baker, Pete Baker, and Joe Baker. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 851 Leonard St. NW with visitation for one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory to Faith Hospice or Youth for Christ may be considered. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to read his lifestory, archive a memory, photo, or sign the guest book online.