Rick Allen Baker's Obituary
Rick Allen Baker, 64, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away on April 3, 2026, following a tragic accident. A man of remarkable resilience, quiet strength, and boundless devotion to his family and country, Rick lived a life defined by service, hard work, and love.
Rick was born on December 13, 1961, in Springfield, Missouri. From an early age, he demonstrated the grit that would come to define him. At only two years old, he suffered a serious dog bite to his face - an ordeal that marked the beginning of a lifetime of obstacles faced and overcome. Rather than be discouraged, Rick channeled that determination into his academics, excelling enough to graduate a full year early from high school in St. Charles, Missouri in 1979.
At just 17 years old - with his mother proudly signing on his behalf - Rick enlisted in the United States Air Force, beginning a distinguished 13-year career of honorable service to his country. Trained as a jet engine mechanic, Rick was assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where fate intervened in the most meaningful way: it was there, in the tool crib, that he met the love of his life, Barbara, who was also serving as a jet engine mechanic.
Rick's exceptional skill and dedication earned him numerous commendations, including the prestigious 1988 Air Force Systems Command "Maintainer of the Year" award, presented in 1989, along with many other awards and medals throughout his service. His career included numerous deployments, among them memorable assignments to Hawaii. He served with distinction until his honorable discharge, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and excellence.
Rick and Barbara were married on September 12, 1985, in Xenia, Ohio, beginning a partnership built on mutual respect, shared sacrifice, and deep affection. Together they built a family that was the centerpiece of Rick's life. Those who knew him best describe him as dedicated, focused, and a tireless hard worker - but above all, as everything you could ever ask for in a family man. He was compassionate, caring, and loving in every sense, and he cherished his mother with a tenderness that all who knew him remarked upon.
Rick and Barbara's first son, Casey Allen Baker, arrived six weeks early, weighing only three pounds. His entrance into the world was as fierce as it was fragile. Casey was placed in the ICU for several months, battling congestive heart and lung failure, failure to thrive, and the challenges that came with a cerebral palsy diagnosis. He required a feeding tube and faced obstacles that would have broken lesser spirits. When doctors were asked how Casey had pulled through, the answer was simple: his temper. That stubborn, fighting spirit was something Rick understood deeply - it was his own.
It was Rick's stepfather, Raymond Hyneck, who first suggested the family turn to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. It was a turning point. The care Casey received there was extraordinary - surgery after surgery, and slowly, Casey learned to walk. Watching his son take those steps was one of the most profound experiences of Rick's life, and it ignited in him a devotion to the Shrine that never wavered. Though Casey eventually struggled to maintain the intensive physical therapy he needed, and the extra weight he carried made walking increasingly difficult, he remained a source of immeasurable love and meaning for his father.
Three years after Casey was born, Rick and Barbara welcomed their second son, Brett Raymond Baker - described by all who knew the family as a big ray of much-needed sunshine. Brett and Casey shared a bond that was something truly special. Brett was, by every account, the most perfect little big brother anyone could have asked for, and the two boys got along beautifully. Rick's heart held them both, fiercely and equally.
In his later years, Rick poured his energy and pride into Brett's company, First Choice Heating and Air, where he brought the same professionalism and work ethic that had defined his military career.
Rick had a lifelong love affair with American muscle cars. He collected Fords and Chevrolets with particular pride, and his crown jewel was his beloved 1967 Chevelle. He participated in numerous car shows over the years, bringing the same enthusiasm and eye for detail that he applied to everything he did.
Rick was a proud member of the Akdar Masonic Lodge and was deeply active in the Akdar Shrine, where he was a dedicated member of the Scooter's Unit. His commitment to the Shrine was born from personal experience - it was the Shriners Hospitals that gave his son Casey the gift of walking - and that gratitude became a calling. His involvement reflected not just brotherhood and community, but a deeply personal vow to give back what had been given to his family.
Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Baker; his mother, Sandra Hynek; his son, Brett Baker and daughter-in-law Ravonna Baker; daughter-in-law Sarah Baker; grandchildren Camden, Ivorie, Brighton, and Bear; his brother, Scott Baker and sister-in-law Cat Baker; and his sister, Becki Stoneberger and brother-in-law Gill Stoneberger.
He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Casey Allen Baker, whose courage and fighting spirit inspired Rick every day of his life.
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