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Franklin Baker
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Obituary for Franklin D Baker

Franklin D  Baker
Vondel Smith Mortuary at South Lakes

Funeral Service: 10 AM Tuesday April 10, 2018
Location: Emmaus Baptist Church 16001 S. Western

Dr. Franklin Delano Baker passed into eternal peace on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at the age of 85. He was born November 8, 1932, in Tarby, Oklahoma, on a dairy farm, to parents Burley Andrew and Nancy Elizabeth (Davis) Baker. Franklin, named for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and of Choctaw heritage, was a graduate of Poteau High School in Poteau, Oklahoma and his beloved Oklahoma State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and then Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1957, completing his internship in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He was a member of Blue Key Honorary, was a member of the OSU Student Senate, and was the Outstanding Independent at OSU in 1954. He was a member of Phi Zeta, the honorary society for Veterinary Medicine. He served in the ROTC at OSU and then became a Captain, serving in the Army Veterinary Medical Corp, Meat and Dairy Hygiene School, and the Signal Corps, with service in Chicago and Memphis, earning the Army Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant for Meritorious Service. Upon his honorable discharge, he joined Dr. Warren Alberty's Veterinary Practice in Amarillo, TX. Franklin later moved to south Oklahoma City to establish his own practice, Grant Square Animal Hospital, which earned national American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accreditation. Franklin practiced for thirty-two years until his retirement and sale of his practice to longtime partner Dr. Neil Corneil. He was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and was an adjunct professor, served as Vice-President, President-Elect, and President of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association and served as President of the Oklahoma City/County Veterinary Medical Association. Other notable achievements included serving as a Deacon of Emmaus Baptist Church, service on the Centennial Advisory Commission at OSU, serving many terms on the Admissions Committee for the College of Vet Med, membership in the Heritage Society at OSU, serving as a mentor and assisting in the design of many local veterinary clinics, serving on the Board of Directors at Grant Square Bank/First Enterprise Bank, and serving as President of the South OKC Kiwanis Club. He was an original donor to the establishment of Integris Southwest Medical Center. All are grateful for the husband, man, father and grandfather he was. He left us with much wisdom, and between working six to seven days most weeks plus making thousands of emergency calls at night, no one worked harder to provide a great life for us all. His legacy of care and compassion for all creatures great and small endures.

Franklin was preceded in death by his:
Parents;
Three brothers: Elwood, Ray, and J.B.;
Beloved sister, Thelma.

He is survived by:
the love of his life of almost 60 years, Betty Kathleen (Miller) Baker, whom he met at OSU;
daughter, Dana and her husband, Carl Glencross of Oklahoma City;
daughter, Melanie and her husband, Randel Mead of Owasso, OK;
two grandsons, Steven Jack and Bryan Andrew Mead, both of whom he deeply cherished and was immensely proud.

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Affiliations


American Veterinary Medical Association

Kiwanis International

US Army

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