Kenneth A. Baker

Kenneth A. Baker

Kenneth passed away on December 29, 2024, at the Rio Grand Hospital in Del Norte, CO with family by his side.

He was born in Salida, CO in 1932 in Salida, CO to Earl Baker and Selma (Forsbeck) Baker. Ken was one of eight children.

Ken grew up in Salida, CO and graduated from Salida High School. He joined the Navy and served in Annapolis during the Korean War. After the War Kenneth moved to Tulsa, OK for a short while upon leaving there he decided he wanted to become an attorney and attended University of Colorado. He moved to Alamosa where he was an attorney for quite a few years. After that he moved to Glenwood Springs and Aspen where he worked in title insurance. Ultimately Ken moved back to his beloved Salida where he practiced law. He was Chaffee County attorney for 25 years and in 1977 he was one of the members of the water community instrumental in the establishment of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy district. He was the first attorney and general manager. Ken continued to work in the district as an attorney and consultant until he retired in 2023. On February 8, 2024, Ken was given the great honor of having the Enterprise building in Salida renamed after him as the Ken Baker Water Enterprise Building.

He was a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Bar Foundation and Member of the State Affairs Committee.

Ken was a runner well into his 60’s, and always enjoyed golfing with either his family or friends. The great outdoors is the place he loved to be. There was fishing, hunting, roping, and just finding time to sit and enjoy his family.

He was preceded in death by parents, Earl and Selma, his 5 brothers and his daughter Ann.

He is survived by his wife Linda and 5 children: Laura (Jim Carpenter), Scott Baker (Shasta), Bonny McLoud, Tressa (Bryan) Smith, Shane Fowler and 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, and brothers Melvin (Ceci) Baker, Keith(Frankie) Baker and sister Earleen McCoy.

Services will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the Presbyterian Church in Salida, CO at 11:00 a.m.  Arrangements are with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Kenneth A. Baker, please visit our Tree Store.