William Prentiss Baker, Jr.

Raleigh - William (Bill) Prentiss Baker, Jr. was called to his eternal home with Jesus Christ on Sunday, November 8, 2015 at the age of 93.  Bill was born the only child of William Prentiss Baker and Blanche Finnell Baker in Raleigh, NC  on November 1, 1922. He was reared in Raleigh, and graduated from Broughton High School in 1940.  He attended Wake Forest College and N.C. State College until World War II when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps.  He returned from service and went to work for his father at Baker Roofing Company, Raleigh, NC.  His life’s career was at Baker Roofing for 50 plus years, retiring as President in the early 90’s.  His sons have operated the company since that time and it has become one of the leading roofing companies in the U.S. He is survived by his devoted wife of 44  years, Sandra Foster Baker, and 4 sons, William Prentiss Baker, III (Joan), Frank S. Baker (Rebekah, deceased), Richard Wayne Baker (Jane), and Andrew (Andy) B. Baker (Keri), all of Wake County.  Bill’s daughter, Carol Ann Haley, predeceased him in 2007. Bill has 9 grandchildren, Kim Baker Gitter (Kent) of Durham, Kelly Baker Proehl (Ricky) of Charlotte, Kristi Baker Dippel (Keith) of Raleigh, Jennifer Richards Kaplan (Alex) of Culver City, CA, Frank Snow Richards of Raleigh, Joey Baker, of Apex & Winston-Salem, Michelle Juranic (Amanda) of Fuquay Varina, NC, Dylan Scott Baker (Beth) of Raleigh, and Hillary Baker Thomas of Raleigh. Bill also has 15 great grandchildren, Alex, Austin and Blake Proehl; Colton and Landon Lee; Tilson, Ellie and Gray Gitter; Sophie and Cooper Kaplan; Hollis, Ladd, and Emmy Baker; and Eliza and Addie Thomas. Bill and Sandra attended First Presbyterian Church for over 30 years.  They were active members of The Church of the Holy Cross for over 15 years. Bill was an Eagle Scout, a member of the Rotary Club of Raleigh, Professional Estimators Association, Carolinas Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Recipient of the Gordon M. Waters Distinguished Service Award by CRSMCA in 1981,  Waterproofing Association of North Carolina, and the Sports Club of Raleigh. He had the gift of faith because of the reality of his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was a true Southern Gentleman, accepting every situation with grace. Bill’s greatest joys were his family and many friends. We would like to thank Brighton Gardens and staff for their loving care of Bill. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, November 15, at 3:00 p.m. at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh and a visitation will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC  27607 and The Church of the Holy Cross, 2301 W. Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC  27612.