Robert David Baker Jr., 77, of Lowell, passed away on Monday, September 21.

Robert was born in Woburn/Winchester, the son of the late Robert David Baker Sr. and June E. (Dwyer) Baker. He was raised in Burlington, where he attended local schools and graduated from Burlington High School.

A hardworking man who was never afraid to get his hands dirty, Robert spent many years working in construction. Over the course of his career, he worked in nearly every facet of the trade, though he primarily worked as a general laborer. There was hardly a job he wouldn't tackle, and he never hesitated to squeeze into a crawl space, inspect some insulation, or lend his hands wherever they were needed. He was practical, capable, and took pride in being able to build, fix, and figure things out for himself.

Robert's life changed forever following a motorcycle accident that landed him in the hospital. While recovering, he happened to meet Donna Taranto, who was there visiting someone else. The two struck up a brief but memorable conversation before going their separate ways. A couple of months later, fate intervened when a family friend officially introduced them. This time, their connection had a chance to grow. They quickly hit it off, began dating, and before long were married and starting a family together.

Fatherhood was a role Robert seemed born to fill. He was a loving, attentive, gentle, and wonderfully goofy dad who rarely, if ever, raised his voice. His easygoing demeanor made him the perfect "girl dad." He wasn't afraid to be silly if it meant getting a laugh from his daughters, often making up his own songs and accompanying them with dance moves that were every bit as memorable as the music. He had a terrific sense of humor and could always be counted on for a quick, and frequently awful, "Dad Joke."

Robert's construction abilities also came in handy at home, where his daughters were often the beneficiaries of his creativity. He built them bunk beds and a treehouse, but some of his greatest creations came after a good New England snowstorm. Robert constructed elaborate snow forts complete with slides, tunnels, and passageways that transformed the backyard into a winter playground. Each winter, he would also clear the pond behind the house so his girls could ice skate. The frozen pond became the setting for his annual "fire on the pond," where family and friends could gather around the warmth of a fire with hot chocolate in hand. These simple traditions became some of the family's most treasured memories.

Robert had an unmistakable rebellious streak and a love for classic rock to match. He could often be found listening to WZLX and enjoying the music of Neil Young, The Doors, Edgar Winter Group, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Foreigner, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and his absolute favorites, Pink Floyd and The Band. True to the free-spirited music he enjoyed, Robert marched to the beat of his own drum and wasn't particularly concerned with what others thought. He appreciated life's simple pleasures and was known to partake in herbal remedies as a way to relax both his body and mind.

His appreciation for things with a little horsepower went well beyond music. Robert loved classic cars and motorcycles, interests that stayed with him throughout his life. He enjoyed attending car shows, admiring the craftsmanship of vintage automobiles, talking about the vehicles that caught his eye, and simply spending an afternoon surrounded by beautiful old cars.

For all his interests, however, family remained at the center of Robert's world. Becoming a grandfather opened an entirely new and wonderful chapter in his life. He adored his grandchildren and took great pleasure in spoiling them whenever he had the opportunity. The same gentle, playful spirit that made him such a memorable father naturally carried over into being a grandfather.

Robert was also perfectly content with a quiet evening at home. One of his favorite ways to unwind was to settle in front of the television and find a familiar rerun of M*A*S*H or The Golden Girls or watching a western or one of his favorite actors, Jason Statham, Brendan Fraser or the Rock star in any of their well-known roles. He didn't need anything elaborate to enjoy himself, some good music, a smokeable herbal remedy, an old television show, a classic car, a terrible joke, or simply having his family nearby was often more than enough.

In addition to his parents, Robert was predeceased by his sister, Bonita “Bonnie Baker.

He is survived by his loving wife, Donna (Taranto) Baker of Lowell, adoring daughters, Lauren Baker and her companion Alby Baldwin of Lowell, and Shelby Arsenault and her husband Derek of Chelmsford, five grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.

At his request all funeral services will be private and at the convenience of his family.