Gerald “Jerry” Marion Baker passed away on July 23, 2025, at 83 years of age. He was born on December 27, 1941, in Sikeston, Missouri and was raised in Mexico, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert H. Baker, his mother, Mildred (Chapman) Baker, and his brother, Robert “Morris” Baker.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Catherine; daughters Michelle (Terry) Welch of Germany and Susan Baker of Baltimore, MD; sons Robert DuBois of Wichita, KS, Kelly DuBois of Buhler, KS, Jason (Phalguni) DuBois of Derby, KS, and Jeremy (Sabine) DuBois of Tri-Cities, WA; and his grandchildren. Jerry also is survived by his brother John (Suzanne) Baker; nephews Matt (Erika) Baker and David (Sonia) Baker; and nieces Courtney (Kevin) McRoberts and Heather (Fred) Hynes.
Jerry was a 1959 graduate of Mexico High School, and a 1963 graduate of University of Missouri-Columbia with a BS Cum Laude in Mechanical Engineering. He was an avid aviator who soloed on his 16th birthday in 1957 and received his Private Pilot certificate on his 17th birthday in 1958.
He continued to advance his pilot career goals, initially as a Flight Test Engineer and eventually as a Flight Test Pilot while working at several aircraft companies from 1963 through 1971, including McDonnell Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft, Swearingen Aircraft, and Interceptor Corporation. From 1972-1977 he worked as a Flight Test Pilot for Cessna Aircraft. In 1977, Jerry accepted a position with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) in Wichita as a Flight Test Pilot. In 1982, he became the Manager of the ACO Flight Test Branch, where he served as an active Flight Test Pilot and Flight Test Manager until his retirement in January 2014. In this position, Jerry received a number of awards from the FAA, including the Administrator’s Safety Award in 2013 for his work within the FAA and with ICAO that resulted in significant changes in the pilot type rating training requirements for stall recovery in large transport airplanes. In 2011, he received the very prestigious Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” award for 50+ years of dedicated service in aviation safety. Also in 2011, he was selected as Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP). At his time of retirement, he held an ATP MEL: B-757, B-767, CE-500, CE-650, CE-750, LR-60, LR-JET, N-265, and Commercial Privileges for ASEL, Sea, and Glider. Jerry logged over 9,000 flight hours and had flown over 180 different airplanes. His love of aviation and aviation safety was apparent to all who knew him.
In his personal time, Jerry enjoyed private flying, sailing at Cheney Reservoir, and attending his grandkids’ sporting and school events. In retirement, family gatherings and traveling were some of his favorite activities.
