David L. Baker

David L. Baker 

1944-2024 

David L. Baker, 79, of Rio Communities, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2024 with his wife, Barbara, and beloved pets, Katie and Dryfus, by his side. His family lovingly surrounded him and cared for him at home during his final days. 

David was born in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13, 1944, to William and Edna (Moran) Baker. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and a police officer in Hawthorne, N.J.  

In 1979, David and his family moved to New Mexico, where he became the owner of Baker Insurance Company in Belen. David was a proud member of the Masonic Bethlehem Lodge and served as the grand master of the Grand Lodge of New Mexico AF & AM in 2009-10. David served the First Presbyterian Church of Belen as a deacon and served his community as a Shriner and Civitan.  

In his spare time, David enjoyed fishing, hunting, raising race horses and officiating college-level ice hockey, basketball, football and baseball. 

He especially enjoyed telling a good tale and would do so with a twinkle in his eye and mischievous grin on his face. David gave of himself to others, offering encouragement and support to everyone he met without hesitation or judgment. 

His life was lived as a gentle and beloved patriarch to his family and as a fiercely loyal friend. 

Left to cherish David’s memory are his wife, Barbara Van Pamel Baker; daughters, Donna (Cort) Garnier and Allyson (Jerry) Lang, of Texas; and son, Christian (Kristy) Baker, of Tennessee; grandchildren, Nicholas (Nick), Bryant, Jacob, Jessee, Marissa, Jonathan, Mikayla, Trevor and Ryann; along with his great-grandchildren, Emma and Sophia, who will forever love and remember their “Pops.” 

A Masonic memorial service was held at Bethlehem Lodge No. 56 AF & AM in Belen on Saturday March 9. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in David’s name to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children. 

Arrangements were handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.