Walter Thomas Baker Jr.

Walter Thomas Baker Jr passed away the afternoon of Saturday, May 4, 2024 in the home he shared with Cindy Thomas during a quiet moment with his family after hosting so very many friends and loved ones who came to wish him well on his journey.

Tom was born in Oakland in 1942 and was welcomed home to Petaluma by Tiny and Virginia Baker. He grew up at 511 D street with his brother, John Baker and his cousins, Corky Devine and Mikel Ann O’Connell. He was an active boy scout in troop 6 led by Tiny and played football and basketball at Petaluma High, graduating in 1960. He went on to graduate from Cal Berkeley in 1964 (with a small detour at College of Marin). Tom made many friends at every stop along the way.

While not everyone would describe Tom as a patient man, he definitely had it when it came to kids. His patience was tested many times by Kelly Baker and Joe Baker-Streit, his children with Krista Davidson, as well as by his adoptive sons Nathan, Colin, and Patrick O’Malley, children of his late partner Denise O’Malley. But that did not stop him from acting as a mentor to many other young people in Petaluma, he always had time to help lift up and support people with love and (sometimes unsolicited) advice, and of course his patience was limitless when it came to his granddaughter, Siobhan Baker-Streit.

Tom was an avid hunter and fisherman, an enthusiastic golfer, loved playing cards and playing with dogs. His spirit of joy and generosity led him in many community organizations, from Rotary to Elks he was always leading people to give back to the community and in 1996 he was awarded the “Man of the Year” from the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce.

There will be a celebration of Tom’s life at Parent Sorenson in Petaluma on May 13th at 10:00am, with a reception at the Petaluma Elks Lodge from 12-4pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Petaluma Education Foundation.