Married Deanna Kay Tanselle on August 5, 1952 in Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana.
The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN) 21 Jan 2011 (Friday, pg. A5)
FRANKLIN
Noel Custer Baker
Noel Custer Baker, 72, died peacefully at his Franklin home Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011.
He was born March 16, 1938, in Providence, to the late Custer and Jessie (Bartley) Baker.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Deanna; a son, James Noel Baker; a daughter, Elizabeth Ellen (Rafael) Sanchez; and two grandchildren, Sierra Kathleen and Antonio Noel. He also is survived by two sisters, Lorene (O.J. deceased) Sloop and Ramona (Joseph) Carter; three brothers, Aaron Timothy (Vicki) Baker, John Bartley (Marilyn) Baker and Stephen Jesse (Kay) Baker; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lloyd Owen Baker and Sherman Virgil Baker; and a sister, Mary Lynn Yates.
Dr. Noel Baker started his commitment to education with perfect attendance from first through 12th grade at Union School in Union Township. He graduated from Franklin College, earned a master's degree at Kent State University and a doctorate degree from Indiana University.
He worked in education at Franklin College, Hiram (Ohio) College, Indiana University, Learning in the City and Consortium for Urban Education, Indianapolis, University of Indianapolis, Indiana School Boards Leadership Education Corp. and Indiana School Boards Association.
Dr. Baker participated as a member of the Franklin Community School Corp. board, Adult and Child Mental Health Clinic and allocation committee of the Indianapolis United Way, president of the Johnson County Historical Society, chairman of the board of trustees of Johnson Memorial Hospital and Johnson County historian.
He was an elder emeritus of Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin. He was involved with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the regional level in various positions.
He was a member of Union Village Masonic Lodge F&AM, Scottish Rite in Indianapolis and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He received numerous honors and awards including Outstanding Educators of America, Alumni Citation at Franklin College, Distinguished Service Award from the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, 2003 Outstanding Citizen Award from the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Union Township Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 E. Water St., Franklin. Calling will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Flinn & Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St. (U.S. 31 North) in Franklin. Interment will be at Harris Cemetery in Union Township.
The family requests donations be made to the Noel Baker Memorial Fund, in care of Franklin College, 101 Branigin Blvd., Franklin, IN 46131; or Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 E. Water St., Franklin, IN 46131.
Online condolences may be made at www.flinnmaguire.com.
The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN) 22 Jan 2011
Baker remembered as personable, effective leader
By: Ryan Trares
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
[email protected]
For Noel Baker, life was about making connections to the people around him.
Whether running into friends or encountering a stranger, he often asked, "How are you doing?"
"He was just an outstanding person, someone who would listen to what you had to say and reflect on it," said Lyman Snyder, a longtime friend.
Baker's personal approach made him ideal as a leader. He was involved with more than a dozen organizations, often serving as president or chairman. From his work as a local historian to training school board members to helping start churches, those who knew him recalled him as someone always striving to improve his community.
"He was a person who was willing to go the extra measure to be a leader or organizer or being committed to something bigger than himself," his brother John Baker said.
Baker died Wednesday at 72.
He was born and raised in Union Township and, after briefly moving to Ohio, returned to the area for good. His roots were important to him and led him to be active as a county historian.
He belonged to the Johnson County Historical Society, serving on its board and being elected president.
Under his direction, Baker helped spearhead a $1.2 million renovation to the museum of history, working to generate more than $600,000 in grant money and donations.
He also was instrumental in organizing the cataloging of the county's graveyards. Over six years, volunteers combed the area, recording the names and locations of more than 90 cemeteries.
Snyder had known Baker since their time as classmates at Franklin College. He also shared a love of history and served with him in the historical society for many years. He always was impressed with his friend's respect for the past.
"Noel had a great heritage about him. He was very proud of his family and where he had come from," Snyder said. "As someone who's not originally from Johnson County, I was so impressed with his commitment to those roots."
As a teacher and administrator, Baker worked for his alma mater Franklin College as well as Indiana University and Hiram College in Ohio. He was the dean of students at Indiana Central College, in addition to teaching a course on parliamentary procedure.
He was drawn to leadership positions and served four terms on the Franklin school board in the 1972 to 1988. After leaving that position, he worked with the Indiana School Boards Association, training new school board members.
Baker traveled around Indiana, meeting with the newly elected officials to teach them the basics of being on the board. He taught them how to work with school administrators and cautioned them to stay out of daily school business.
"Where there was a new group on there, he was the man who pointed them towards the responsibilities they were facing, and he helped get them going," John Baker said. "Noel was committed to making sure everyone he trained knew the right way to serve."
His experience in education paved the way for further leadership opportunities in the county.
For eight years, Baker served on the hospital board, including the final two as its chairman. Larry Heydon, CEO of Johnson Memorial Hospital, worked briefly with Baker during his last years on the board.
Baker had a methodical, organized manner that was both reassuring and effective, Heydon said.
"He was always calm. His demeanor was one that he was never aggravated. He approached every problem from a level-headed point of view," he said.
Baker took the same approach to working in his church.
His relationship to God was central to who he was, John Baker said. He had been an elder emeritus at Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin and was deeply involved with the Disciples of Christ church throughout his life.
Throughout the Midwest, he helped new churches start up and flourish, organizing fundraising campaigns and working to gain new members.
The Rev. William Horner, pastor at Tabernacle, worked with Baker both in his own church and throughout the region more than 20 years.
"He had an attitude that we could do this. There was always that supportive, energizing type of mind-set that just got things done," he said. "It's not an accident that you read his obituary and see how much he's accomplished for the community. He knew what was important, and he lived it."
The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN) 21 Jan 2011 (Friday, pg. A5)
FRANKLIN
Noel Custer Baker
Noel Custer Baker, 72, died peacefully at his Franklin home Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011.
He was born March 16, 1938, in Providence, to the late Custer and Jessie (Bartley) Baker.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Deanna; a son, James Noel Baker; a daughter, Elizabeth Ellen (Rafael) Sanchez; and two grandchildren, Sierra Kathleen and Antonio Noel. He also is survived by two sisters, Lorene (O.J. deceased) Sloop and Ramona (Joseph) Carter; three brothers, Aaron Timothy (Vicki) Baker, John Bartley (Marilyn) Baker and Stephen Jesse (Kay) Baker; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lloyd Owen Baker and Sherman Virgil Baker; and a sister, Mary Lynn Yates.
Dr. Noel Baker started his commitment to education with perfect attendance from first through 12th grade at Union School in Union Township. He graduated from Franklin College, earned a master's degree at Kent State University and a doctorate degree from Indiana University.
He worked in education at Franklin College, Hiram (Ohio) College, Indiana University, Learning in the City and Consortium for Urban Education, Indianapolis, University of Indianapolis, Indiana School Boards Leadership Education Corp. and Indiana School Boards Association.
Dr. Baker participated as a member of the Franklin Community School Corp. board, Adult and Child Mental Health Clinic and allocation committee of the Indianapolis United Way, president of the Johnson County Historical Society, chairman of the board of trustees of Johnson Memorial Hospital and Johnson County historian.
He was an elder emeritus of Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin. He was involved with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the regional level in various positions.
He was a member of Union Village Masonic Lodge F&AM, Scottish Rite in Indianapolis and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He received numerous honors and awards including Outstanding Educators of America, Alumni Citation at Franklin College, Distinguished Service Award from the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, 2003 Outstanding Citizen Award from the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Union Township Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 E. Water St., Franklin. Calling will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Flinn & Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St. (U.S. 31 North) in Franklin. Interment will be at Harris Cemetery in Union Township.
The family requests donations be made to the Noel Baker Memorial Fund, in care of Franklin College, 101 Branigin Blvd., Franklin, IN 46131; or Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 E. Water St., Franklin, IN 46131.
Online condolences may be made at www.flinnmaguire.com.
The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN) 22 Jan 2011
Baker remembered as personable, effective leader
By: Ryan Trares
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
[email protected]
For Noel Baker, life was about making connections to the people around him.
Whether running into friends or encountering a stranger, he often asked, "How are you doing?"
"He was just an outstanding person, someone who would listen to what you had to say and reflect on it," said Lyman Snyder, a longtime friend.
Baker's personal approach made him ideal as a leader. He was involved with more than a dozen organizations, often serving as president or chairman. From his work as a local historian to training school board members to helping start churches, those who knew him recalled him as someone always striving to improve his community.
"He was a person who was willing to go the extra measure to be a leader or organizer or being committed to something bigger than himself," his brother John Baker said.
Baker died Wednesday at 72.
He was born and raised in Union Township and, after briefly moving to Ohio, returned to the area for good. His roots were important to him and led him to be active as a county historian.
He belonged to the Johnson County Historical Society, serving on its board and being elected president.
Under his direction, Baker helped spearhead a $1.2 million renovation to the museum of history, working to generate more than $600,000 in grant money and donations.
He also was instrumental in organizing the cataloging of the county's graveyards. Over six years, volunteers combed the area, recording the names and locations of more than 90 cemeteries.
Snyder had known Baker since their time as classmates at Franklin College. He also shared a love of history and served with him in the historical society for many years. He always was impressed with his friend's respect for the past.
"Noel had a great heritage about him. He was very proud of his family and where he had come from," Snyder said. "As someone who's not originally from Johnson County, I was so impressed with his commitment to those roots."
As a teacher and administrator, Baker worked for his alma mater Franklin College as well as Indiana University and Hiram College in Ohio. He was the dean of students at Indiana Central College, in addition to teaching a course on parliamentary procedure.
He was drawn to leadership positions and served four terms on the Franklin school board in the 1972 to 1988. After leaving that position, he worked with the Indiana School Boards Association, training new school board members.
Baker traveled around Indiana, meeting with the newly elected officials to teach them the basics of being on the board. He taught them how to work with school administrators and cautioned them to stay out of daily school business.
"Where there was a new group on there, he was the man who pointed them towards the responsibilities they were facing, and he helped get them going," John Baker said. "Noel was committed to making sure everyone he trained knew the right way to serve."
His experience in education paved the way for further leadership opportunities in the county.
For eight years, Baker served on the hospital board, including the final two as its chairman. Larry Heydon, CEO of Johnson Memorial Hospital, worked briefly with Baker during his last years on the board.
Baker had a methodical, organized manner that was both reassuring and effective, Heydon said.
"He was always calm. His demeanor was one that he was never aggravated. He approached every problem from a level-headed point of view," he said.
Baker took the same approach to working in his church.
His relationship to God was central to who he was, John Baker said. He had been an elder emeritus at Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin and was deeply involved with the Disciples of Christ church throughout his life.
Throughout the Midwest, he helped new churches start up and flourish, organizing fundraising campaigns and working to gain new members.
The Rev. William Horner, pastor at Tabernacle, worked with Baker both in his own church and throughout the region more than 20 years.
"He had an attitude that we could do this. There was always that supportive, energizing type of mind-set that just got things done," he said. "It's not an accident that you read his obituary and see how much he's accomplished for the community. He knew what was important, and he lived it."
Married Deanna Kay Tanselle on August 5, 1952 in Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana.
The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN) 21 Jan 2011 (Friday, pg. A5)
FRANKLIN
Noel Custer Baker
Noel Custer Baker, 72, died peacefully at his Franklin home Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011.
He was born March 16, 1938, in Providence, to the late Custer and Jessie (Bartley) Baker.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Deanna; a son, James Noel Baker; a daughter, Elizabeth Ellen (Rafael) Sanchez; and two grandchildren, Sierra Kathleen and Antonio Noel. He also is survived by two sisters, Lorene (O.J. deceased) Sloop and Ramona (Joseph) Carter; three brothers, Aaron Timothy (Vicki) Baker, John Bartley (Marilyn) Baker and Stephen Jesse (Kay) Baker; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lloyd Owen Baker and Sherman Virgil Baker; and a sister, Mary Lynn Yates.
Dr. Noel Baker started his commitment to education with perfect attendance from first through 12th grade at Union School in Union Township. He graduated from Franklin College, earned a master's degree at Kent State University and a doctorate degree from Indiana University.
He worked in education at Franklin College, Hiram (Ohio) College, Indiana University, Learning in the City and Consortium for Urban Education, Indianapolis, University of Indianapolis, Indiana School Boards Leadership Education Corp. and Indiana School Boards Association.
Dr. Baker participated as a member of the Franklin Community School Corp. board, Adult and Child Mental Health Clinic and allocation committee of the Indianapolis United Way, president of the Johnson County Historical Society, chairman of the board of trustees of Johnson Memorial Hospital and Johnson County historian.
He was an elder emeritus of Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin. He was involved with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the regional level in various positions.
He was a member of Union Village Masonic Lodge F&AM, Scottish Rite in Indianapolis and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He received numerous honors and awards including Outstanding Educators of America, Alumni Citation at Franklin College, Distinguished Service Award from the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, 2003 Outstanding Citizen Award from the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Union Township Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 E. Water St., Franklin. Calling will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Flinn & Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St. (U.S. 31 North) in Franklin. Interment will be at Harris Cemetery in Union Township.
The family requests donations be made to the Noel Baker Memorial Fund, in care of Franklin College, 101 Branigin Blvd., Franklin, IN 46131; or Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 E. Water St., Franklin, IN 46131.
Online condolences may be made at www.flinnmaguire.com.
The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN) 22 Jan 2011
Baker remembered as personable, effective leader
By: Ryan Trares
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
[email protected]
For Noel Baker, life was about making connections to the people around him.
Whether running into friends or encountering a stranger, he often asked, "How are you doing?"
"He was just an outstanding person, someone who would listen to what you had to say and reflect on it," said Lyman Snyder, a longtime friend.
Baker's personal approach made him ideal as a leader. He was involved with more than a dozen organizations, often serving as president or chairman. From his work as a local historian to training school board members to helping start churches, those who knew him recalled him as someone always striving to improve his community.
"He was a person who was willing to go the extra measure to be a leader or organizer or being committed to something bigger than himself," his brother John Baker said.
Baker died Wednesday at 72.
He was born and raised in Union Township and, after briefly moving to Ohio, returned to the area for good. His roots were important to him and led him to be active as a county historian.
He belonged to the Johnson County Historical Society, serving on its board and being elected president.
Under his direction, Baker helped spearhead a $1.2 million renovation to the museum of history, working to generate more than $600,000 in grant money and donations.
He also was instrumental in organizing the cataloging of the county's graveyards. Over six years, volunteers combed the area, recording the names and locations of more than 90 cemeteries.
Snyder had known Baker since their time as classmates at Franklin College. He also shared a love of history and served with him in the historical society for many years. He always was impressed with his friend's respect for the past.
"Noel had a great heritage about him. He was very proud of his family and where he had come from," Snyder said. "As someone who's not originally from Johnson County, I was so impressed with his commitment to those roots."
As a teacher and administrator, Baker worked for his alma mater Franklin College as well as Indiana University and Hiram College in Ohio. He was the dean of students at Indiana Central College, in addition to teaching a course on parliamentary procedure.
He was drawn to leadership positions and served four terms on the Franklin school board in the 1972 to 1988. After leaving that position, he worked with the Indiana School Boards Association, training new school board members.
Baker traveled around Indiana, meeting with the newly elected officials to teach them the basics of being on the board. He taught them how to work with school administrators and cautioned them to stay out of daily school business.
"Where there was a new group on there, he was the man who pointed them towards the responsibilities they were facing, and he helped get them going," John Baker said. "Noel was committed to making sure everyone he trained knew the right way to serve."
His experience in education paved the way for further leadership opportunities in the county.
For eight years, Baker served on the hospital board, including the final two as its chairman. Larry Heydon, CEO of Johnson Memorial Hospital, worked briefly with Baker during his last years on the board.
Baker had a methodical, organized manner that was both reassuring and effective, Heydon said.
"He was always calm. His demeanor was one that he was never aggravated. He approached every problem from a level-headed point of view," he said.
Baker took the same approach to working in his church.
His relationship to God was central to who he was, John Baker said. He had been an elder emeritus at Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin and was deeply involved with the Disciples of Christ church throughout his life.
Throughout the Midwest, he helped new churches start up and flourish, organizing fundraising campaigns and working to gain new members.
The Rev. William Horner, pastor at Tabernacle, worked with Baker both in his own church and throughout the region more than 20 years.
"He had an attitude that we could do this. There was always that supportive, energizing type of mind-set that just got things done," he said. "It's not an accident that you read his obituary and see how much he's accomplished for the community. He knew what was important, and he lived it."
The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN) 21 Jan 2011 (Friday, pg. A5)
FRANKLIN
Noel Custer Baker
Noel Custer Baker, 72, died peacefully at his Franklin home Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011.
He was born March 16, 1938, in Providence, to the late Custer and Jessie (Bartley) Baker.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Deanna; a son, James Noel Baker; a daughter, Elizabeth Ellen (Rafael) Sanchez; and two grandchildren, Sierra Kathleen and Antonio Noel. He also is survived by two sisters, Lorene (O.J. deceased) Sloop and Ramona (Joseph) Carter; three brothers, Aaron Timothy (Vicki) Baker, John Bartley (Marilyn) Baker and Stephen Jesse (Kay) Baker; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lloyd Owen Baker and Sherman Virgil Baker; and a sister, Mary Lynn Yates.
Dr. Noel Baker started his commitment to education with perfect attendance from first through 12th grade at Union School in Union Township. He graduated from Franklin College, earned a master's degree at Kent State University and a doctorate degree from Indiana University.
He worked in education at Franklin College, Hiram (Ohio) College, Indiana University, Learning in the City and Consortium for Urban Education, Indianapolis, University of Indianapolis, Indiana School Boards Leadership Education Corp. and Indiana School Boards Association.
Dr. Baker participated as a member of the Franklin Community School Corp. board, Adult and Child Mental Health Clinic and allocation committee of the Indianapolis United Way, president of the Johnson County Historical Society, chairman of the board of trustees of Johnson Memorial Hospital and Johnson County historian.
He was an elder emeritus of Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin. He was involved with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the regional level in various positions.
He was a member of Union Village Masonic Lodge F&AM, Scottish Rite in Indianapolis and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He received numerous honors and awards including Outstanding Educators of America, Alumni Citation at Franklin College, Distinguished Service Award from the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, 2003 Outstanding Citizen Award from the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Union Township Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 E. Water St., Franklin. Calling will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Flinn & Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St. (U.S. 31 North) in Franklin. Interment will be at Harris Cemetery in Union Township.
The family requests donations be made to the Noel Baker Memorial Fund, in care of Franklin College, 101 Branigin Blvd., Franklin, IN 46131; or Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 E. Water St., Franklin, IN 46131.
Online condolences may be made at www.flinnmaguire.com.
The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN) 22 Jan 2011
Baker remembered as personable, effective leader
By: Ryan Trares
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
[email protected]
For Noel Baker, life was about making connections to the people around him.
Whether running into friends or encountering a stranger, he often asked, "How are you doing?"
"He was just an outstanding person, someone who would listen to what you had to say and reflect on it," said Lyman Snyder, a longtime friend.
Baker's personal approach made him ideal as a leader. He was involved with more than a dozen organizations, often serving as president or chairman. From his work as a local historian to training school board members to helping start churches, those who knew him recalled him as someone always striving to improve his community.
"He was a person who was willing to go the extra measure to be a leader or organizer or being committed to something bigger than himself," his brother John Baker said.
Baker died Wednesday at 72.
He was born and raised in Union Township and, after briefly moving to Ohio, returned to the area for good. His roots were important to him and led him to be active as a county historian.
He belonged to the Johnson County Historical Society, serving on its board and being elected president.
Under his direction, Baker helped spearhead a $1.2 million renovation to the museum of history, working to generate more than $600,000 in grant money and donations.
He also was instrumental in organizing the cataloging of the county's graveyards. Over six years, volunteers combed the area, recording the names and locations of more than 90 cemeteries.
Snyder had known Baker since their time as classmates at Franklin College. He also shared a love of history and served with him in the historical society for many years. He always was impressed with his friend's respect for the past.
"Noel had a great heritage about him. He was very proud of his family and where he had come from," Snyder said. "As someone who's not originally from Johnson County, I was so impressed with his commitment to those roots."
As a teacher and administrator, Baker worked for his alma mater Franklin College as well as Indiana University and Hiram College in Ohio. He was the dean of students at Indiana Central College, in addition to teaching a course on parliamentary procedure.
He was drawn to leadership positions and served four terms on the Franklin school board in the 1972 to 1988. After leaving that position, he worked with the Indiana School Boards Association, training new school board members.
Baker traveled around Indiana, meeting with the newly elected officials to teach them the basics of being on the board. He taught them how to work with school administrators and cautioned them to stay out of daily school business.
"Where there was a new group on there, he was the man who pointed them towards the responsibilities they were facing, and he helped get them going," John Baker said. "Noel was committed to making sure everyone he trained knew the right way to serve."
His experience in education paved the way for further leadership opportunities in the county.
For eight years, Baker served on the hospital board, including the final two as its chairman. Larry Heydon, CEO of Johnson Memorial Hospital, worked briefly with Baker during his last years on the board.
Baker had a methodical, organized manner that was both reassuring and effective, Heydon said.
"He was always calm. His demeanor was one that he was never aggravated. He approached every problem from a level-headed point of view," he said.
Baker took the same approach to working in his church.
His relationship to God was central to who he was, John Baker said. He had been an elder emeritus at Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin and was deeply involved with the Disciples of Christ church throughout his life.
Throughout the Midwest, he helped new churches start up and flourish, organizing fundraising campaigns and working to gain new members.
The Rev. William Horner, pastor at Tabernacle, worked with Baker both in his own church and throughout the region more than 20 years.
"He had an attitude that we could do this. There was always that supportive, energizing type of mind-set that just got things done," he said. "It's not an accident that you read his obituary and see how much he's accomplished for the community. He knew what was important, and he lived it."
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