Los Altos resident and World War II flying ace Charles “Chuck” Nathan Baker died in his sleep on April 2, 2025 at the age of 106. Charles vowed to live longer than his mother, Dorothy LaPlant Baker, who died at 101, and his father, Ernest Baker, who died at 102.
In 1941, Chuck had completed two years of college when he was drafted into the Army. After a year in the Cavalry School (infantry and tanks – not horses), he requested a transfer to the Army Air Force.
In 1942 he met Donnabeth Dungan and it was love at first sight but, to be sure she was the right one, Chuck took her flying. Donnabeth had never been in an airplane. In Chuck’s own words: “I turned that plane upside down, letting her hang on her seat belt looking down with nothing between her and the Bay. We did loops, tail spins, high speed dives and tight speed pull ups. … She took to it like a duck to water … and I had a winner.” But they decided to wait until he completed his combat tour to marry.
There was every reason to believe he might not return. As a member of the United States Eighth Army Air Force, 390th Bomb Group, Chuck piloted 11 different B17s for 35 bombing missions. Only two of those planes survived the war. Chuck was awarded the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Battle Stars of the European Theater of Operations (Germany, Normandy, and Northern France), the American Defense Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. He was Honorably Discharged as a Captain from the Air Force Reserve in July 1955.
His time in the military was a pivotal part of his life. He wrote two books about his WWII experiences and said, “There is seldom a day in my life that goes by that I don’t fly another imaginary mission in my mind.”
In 1944, as soon as his combat tour ended, Chuck and Donnabeth were married. And, after he separated from active duty, they decided to start a cabinet-making business. Chuck had no experience making cabinets and Donnabeth had no bookkeeping experience but after seven years of hard work, Sequoia Mills was one of the largest cabinet-making companies in the Bay Area.
They were members of the Palo Alto Ski Club, the Oakland Yacht Club, and the Mercedes Benz “Gull Wing Group.” Charles was a charter member of the Rotary Club of San Carlos since 1948 and a long time member of the Los Altos United Methodist Church.
Donnabeth passed away in 1999. Chuck wrote a book, “Memories,” in honor of their over 54 years together.
Chuck was blessed with enormous energy and curiosity and he loved a challenge. He had a great sense of humor. Chuck was always grateful for his wonderful life, his family and his many good friends, especially his dearest friend Marina Lewis.
His brother Gordon Baker predeceased him. Chuck is survived by his niece Diana Baker, his nephew James Baker, and Donnabeth’s nieces Jennifer Hulse Watts and Geraldine Hulse-Stephens.
Celebration of Life is being planned.
