Danny "Dan" Lee Baker

Danny Lee Baker, age 82 of Oriental, North Carolina, went home to be with the Lord on May 30, 2025 in the care of Pruitt Hospice. He is predeceased by his beloved “children” Demi and Patchy, his two Doberman dogs. He is survived by his loving wife, Joy Carawan Baker; his half-brother, Bob Baker of Walla Walla, Washington; and his best friends, Dr. Bill “DOC” Sowell of Fort Myers, Florida and Bill Russell of Kingman, Arizona. Dan was born in Fullerton, California where he resided until relocating to Oriental, NC in 1998.

At the age of 15, he received his Eagle Scout Award followed a year later by the elite Explorer Silver Award. Mr. Baker served a total of 23 years between the California National Guard and the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary serving as Flotilla Commander. During his years of service, he earned the U.S. Army Marksmanship Badge, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Air Crew Badge, and the U.S. Coast Guard Group Action Award With Two Anchor Devices. Dan was a life time member of the U.S. Navy League and U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Association aka “The Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl”.

He retired from the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2005, where he earned the beloved nickname of “The Admiral” called by all those with whom he served. One of Dan’s proudest accomplishments was his opportunity to work with Autonetics, a division of North American Aviation, which played a key role in the development of the Apollo Guidance Computer for the first three Apollo missions.

For more than 30 years, Dan worked for the Commercial Diesel Generator market and with Peek Traffic, Inc. as Western Regional Sales Director. After moving to Oriental, he served more than 10 years as the town’s Public Works Director. Dan was an FCC licensed Amateur Extra Class Ham radio operator (Call sign N6XWF) and co-founded the Oriental Amateur Radio Club.

To honor his wishes, a private Burial at Sea With Military Honors service will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025. A nationwide amateur radio Silent Key Ceremony will be done with family and friends present in honor of Dan Baker where he is called over the radio repeaters with no answer.