Edward Lawrence Baker, 61, formerly of Niles, who resided in Abilene, Texas, died on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at the Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center in Amarillo, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 24, at Alford’s Mortuary, 1222 Napier, in South Bend, Ind.
Interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
He was born on Jan. 19, 1948, in Niles to the union of George Andrew and Myrna Isabell (Lawrence) Baker.
He graduated from Niles High School in 1966. While in high school he played the baritone saxophone in the marching band.
He attended one year of college from 1966 to 1967 at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Ala.
On Jan. 25, 1968, he was drafted into the United States Army and was honorably discharged on Feb. 3, 1970.
In 1972, he was united in holy matrimony to Patricia Terrell in Berrien Springs. From this union one child was born, Jonathan Baker.
In June 1975, he married Carolyn Fowler.
His employment history included bindery work with Simplicity Pattern in Niles and he was a lineman for I & M Electric Company in Buchanan for several years.
He was a former member of Niles Seventh Day Adventist Church.
He moved to Texas in 1982. He loved to fish, collect coins and was an avid scrabble player.
He was preceded in death by his father, George Andrew Baker and a son, Sam Mitchell.
Survivors left to cherish his memory include a daughter, Hope Dunifin (Peter) Anderson of Vandalia; a son, Jonathan Baker of Miami, Fla.; three grandchildren, Paige, Christen and Payton Anderson, all of Vandalia; his mother, Myrna Isabell McClain of Niles; two sisters, Myrna (Delbert) Hunt of Niles and Karen Alford of South Bend, Ind.; two brothers, George C. (Marilyn) Baker and Gregory (Diane) Baker, all of Niles; his former wife, Carolyn Fowler of South Bend, Ind. and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.
He was a beloved father, grandfather, son and brother.
Messages of bereavement may be e-mailed to alfordsmortuary@comcast.net c/o Edward Baker Family.
Arrangements were by Alford’s Mortuary in South Bend, Ind.