Kenneth Eugene Baker, 78, died Dec. 2, 2011. He was born Nov. 3, 1933, in Flagg, Texas, the son of Faye and Lila Tipton Baker.

He graduated from Arlington High School, Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State University with a teaching degree. He served in the Army during the Korean War, and then taught at Mitchell and North Reno Schools, also serving as a principal at Mitchell and later was a self-employed contractor.

On Dec. 28, 1953, he married Gayla Kaye Locke in Arlington. She died Sept. 8, 2006. He is survived by a son, Kerry and his wife Cindy and their sons, Brady and Brenden; his in-laws, Gale and Agnes Locke, all of Arlington; a brother, Stan Eoff and his wife Virginia of Vancouver, Wash.; a sister, Nell Wolfe and husband Charles of Harrah, Okla.; a brother-in-law, Lewis Locke and his wife Judy of Ellensburg, Wash.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dean; and a sister, Jo Caswell.

Friends may sign his register book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday with family present 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, Hutchinson. Private inurnment will be in Arlington Cemetery at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to Reno County Fire District #4 or Arlington United Methodist Church, in care of the mortuary.