Berry Baker

Berry Thomas Baker died peacefully at the Nathan Adelson Hospice care facility in Las Vegas, NV on July 20, 2013 at the age of 72, surrounded by family. Berry was born in Columbus, OH on August 15, 1940 to the late Berry Earl Baker and Louise Ruffner Baker. He is also preceded in death by his younger sister, Beth Baker Altman. Berry grew up in Columbus and spent his childhood summers with his beloved grandparents in Pleasantville, OH. He attended Columbus Public Schools, then graduated from Shawnee Mission High School near Kansas City, MO. After high school, he returned to Columbus and met the love of his life, Ginni. They married in 1961 and lived a full life of laughter and adventure. He was employed by Western Electric at the age of 19, and retired after 30 years, never having taken a single day of sick leave. After retiring, he enrolled in bartending courses and discovered his affinity for mixology. Berry and Ginni soon relocated to Kingman, AZ where he was hired as one of the first bartenders at the Flamingo Hilton in Laughlin, NV. He quickly became a father figure to the younger bartenders and to all of "his girls", the cocktail waitresses with whom he worked. He often stated that if he had to do it all over again, he would have done everything the very same way. In addition to his loving wife of 52 years, Berry was proud of the accomplishments of his three children who also survive him: Tom (Martha) of Columbus, OH; Lisa of Fairfax Station, VA; and Dave (Craig Lautenschleger), of Columbus. He is survived by two granddaughters: Anne Baker and Riley Baker; brother-in-law John Cheatham (Karen) of Columbus; nephew Chris Cheatham (Julie); nephew Rob Cheatham; niece Katie Miller; many great nieces and nephews; and his dear four-legged babies, Bobo and Chloe. As a boy, Berry benefitted greatly from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio. Donations in Berry's memory can be made at www.bbbscolumbus.org. A celebration of Berry's life will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at GRAUMLICH FUNERAL HOME, 1351 S. High St., Columbus, OH, 43207. The family will receive guests at 1p.m., and a memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. To sign and view Berry's online book of memories please visit www.graumlichfuneralhome.com.