Richard "King" Kingdon BAKER
Richard Kingdon 'King' Baker passed away on May 12, 2026, at the age of 85. Born on May 1, 1941, to Harold Baker and Ethel (nee Cooper), King led a life dedicated to teaching and a great love of the outdoors. Raised in Peterborough, King went to Queen Alexandra Public School, PCVS, and then Teacher's College. He taught briefly at Queen Mary Public School and then switched to Outdoor Education. He finished his career at M.J. Hobbs Senior Public School, retiring in 1995. King met his wife, Kathy (nee Hnyp), on a canoe trip in Northern Ontario in 1980. Together they paddled on many white-water rivers and travelled the world, including China, Africa, Europe, Central America, and Australia. In between these trips, they enjoyed cottaging on Chandos Lake and scuba diving in the Caribbean. King leaves behind his wife, Kathy, his son, Brent Baker (Annie), his sister-in-law, Nadia Komar, and her three children, as well as six grandchildren. A Funeral Service will be held at St. John's Anglican Church, 99 Brock Street, Peterborough, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow in the Church Hall. Interment will be at Little Lake Cemetery. Donations in his memory can be made to the Peterborough Field Naturalists or the Lakefield Animal Welfare Society.
