The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is saddened to learn of the passing of two members of the DVM Class of 1981 – Dr. John Baker and Dr. Timothy Bartlett. Both were 70 years old.
Dr. John Baker
A native of Evansville, Indiana, Dr. John Baker died June 14, 2026 at Norton’s Heart Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
He grew up in Chandler, Indiana, on an 80 acre farm where he picked-up an interest in farming from his father and also developed an interest in farm animals. He attended Purdue University with the original intent of becoming an engineer, but quickly changed his career focus to veterinary medicine.
After earning his Purdue DVM degree in 1981, Dr. Baker accepted his first job as a veterinarian in Poseyville, Indiana at Raintree Veterinary Services and focused on swine medicine. He worked there for three years before returning to Warrick County where he opened a solo practice, which became Warrick Veterinary Clinic in Boonville.
Dr. Baker also joined the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) in 1981 and remained a continuous member. He served two terms as AASV District 4 director representing Indiana and Michigan from 2006 to 2012. He also served on the Annual Meeting Program Planning Committees in 2017 and 2019.
Dr. Baker received the AASV Swine Practitioner of the Year Award in 2011. He also was a Leman Fellow and Heritage Fellow donor to the AASV Foundation, and was a consistent generous contributor to the AASV Foundation fundraising auctions over the years.
Today the Baker family-owned and operated clinics consist of a new, state-of-the-art facility in Boonville and two clinics in Newburgh.
Dr. Baker was known to be happiest when in the clinic caring for animals and working beside his veterinary team; driving to farm calls; or peacefully walking through swine barns to assess the animals’ health and solve problems.
He is remembered as a loving father and grandfather who found joy and peace in his strong faith and Christian values, his family and friends, and the experiences that were part of caring for “all creatures great and small.” He also valued his relationships with veterinary colleagues, and loved American history as well as nature and gardening, fishing and boating.
A funeral service was held June 19, at the Alexander Funeral Home – Newburgh Chapel. Donations in Dr. Baker’s memory may be made to the Baker Family Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Endowment at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, or to one’s own local animal shelter, or to Hope Central in Boonville. A complete obituary may be read here.
Dr. Timothy Bartlett
Dr. Timothy Bartlett died June 23, 2026. He is remembered as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and devoted friend who lived a remarkable life enriched by his dedication to his family, the veterinary medical profession, and the world of equine sports.
After earning his Purdue DVM degree in 1981, Dr. Bartlett began a distinguished career as an equine veterinarian, dedicating three decades to the care, health, and well-being of horses. His passion for all things equine extended beyond his veterinary practice. He was a well-known horse breeder and judge, and was actively involved in the competitive reining community. He also was an approved National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) judge and served as a past president of the NRHA. His expertise and commitment earned him significant recognition, including induction into the NRHA Hall of Fame, a testament to both his impact on the sport and his unwavering integrity.
In addition, Dr. Bartlett was an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Approved Restricted Reining Judge and a lifetime member of the AQHA. He also served in both the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Indiana Association of Equine Practitioners, even serving a term as president. A member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, he was respected for his knowledge and tireless advocacy. He also served as the District 10 regional veterinarian and director of equine programs for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.
Above all, Dr. Bartlett’s greatest source of pride was his family. His guidance, patience, and enduring love will be deeply missed by those closest to him. He will be remembered for his professional excellence, his commitment to the equine world, and, most of all, for the warmth, wisdom, and love he shared with his family and all who knew him, even as his legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the community he helped shape.
A gathering in Dr. Bartlett’s memory will be held at Goodwin-Sievers Family Funeral Home at 524 Broadway Street in Vincennes, Indiana, July 2, 2026, with a visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 1:00.
Donations in memory of Dr. Timothy Bartlett may be made to the NRHA Crisis Fund via reiningfoundation.com.
