Charles W. (Chuck) Baker was a native and life-long resident of Aberdeen. Chuck grew up attending Aberdeen public schools and graduated from Aberdeen High School. He attended Western Maryland College until he entered the U.S. Air Force Flight Training School in 1942. After completing his pilot training, he served during World War II as a First Lieutenant until he was honorably discharged in 1946. He served in the reserves until called back to active duty during the Korean War in 1951. He flew the P51 and the F84 fighter aircraft.
Chuck taught in the Harford County Public School System for 26 years, beginning with Industrial Arts. He was an avid woodworker and tennis player. But his primary lifelong professional and avocational interest was music. Chuck played in dance bands starting in high school. He perfected his skills studying instrumental music at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. His primary instruments were trumpet and woodwinds. He earned his degree in Instrumental Music Education at Towson and began his academic career teaching instrumental music for grades 9-12 at the Aberdeen High School. He completed his music teaching career teaching music at the Aberdeen Elementary Schools. While at Aberdeen High School he was known for his excellent marching band and their football half-time shows and the professional sound of his select dance band ensemble.
He was noted for his interest in his students’ lives and the kind and patient approach that he brought to the music learning process. Several of his students went on to successful professional music careers. He led the Aberdeen High School summer band program for many years. He formed and led the Chuck Baker Orchestra enlisting the talents of many exceptional “Big Band” musicians from Harford County. His orchestra was well known and played for many local and State events over the last 50 years. Chuck also organized the Aberdeen Fire Department Band which won many awards in the annual State-wide competition at Ocean City. Beginning in the 1980’s, he organized the Aberdeen Summer Concert Series for the Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation who later awarded him for 25 years of volunteer service. In his later years he was a member of the Bel Air Community Band. Chuck was a founder of HARCO (The Harford County Teachers Association Credit Union). He was a charter member and served as a long-time volunteer with The Aberdeen Room Museum group. In 2003 he received the Aberdeen Rotary Club’s Citizenship Award.
We honor Chuck for his service to the Aberdeen High School and the larger Aberdeen and Harford County community. His musical legacy lives on in the lives his students, and the tremendous musical enjoyment over many years he provided by organizing and directing local bands, and his unselfish community service. He has touched many lives in Aberdeen and the larger Harford County community. We also honor his wife, Barbara Harward Baker for her faithful support and service alongside Chuck in every endeavor.
In Memory of Charles Winfield Baker
