Earle Baker Obituary

BAKER, SR., Earle YORKTOWN - Earle M. Baker has left a place here on earth to be in the care of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on December 28, 2008. Earle was born in Dothan, Alabama on Aug. 17, 1918. He was happily married to Elsie R. Baker for 32 years; who passed away in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. on March 30, 2006. Earle and Elsie were members of 1st Baptist Church of Mt. Pleasant,S.C. Earle attended Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Ala. and was given a Hall of Fame award in 1939. He was also awarded a four year athletic baseball scholarship to Louisiana Tech where he also played basketball and golf to become a three letter athlete. In 1944, he was drafted by the Army and served with the 79th Infantry Division as an 81 MM Mortar Group. During his service, he traveled to 11 countries for 23 months and was proud to play basketball for the 1st Infantry, that won the championship of Europe with a record of 41 wins and 1 loss. After serving his country, Earle chose the YMCA as a Christian vocation that lasted for 35 years of service. He was a Director of the YMCA and served in Birmingham, Ala., Albany, Ga., Shreveport, La., Vicksburg, Miss., Peninsula YMCA in Va., and the YMCA in Charleston,S.C. His most enjoyable service with the YMCA was on the Peninsula; when he helped with fund raising campaign to raise $450,000 to build a new YMCA in Newport News, being the first one to be built on the peninsula. During Earle's service with the associations, he had the opportunity to serve on the Blue Ridge YMCA Board for 6 years, the Interracial Committee of Mississippi for 3 years, he also served on the South Eastern YMCA Board of Directors for 6 years, the National and International Council of YMCA for 6 years. Earle's last opportunity with the YMCA was working with his brother Brutus to help raise ten million dollars for the Denver Colo. YMCA. After retiring from the YMCA, Earle became a golf professional at Snee Farm C.C. in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. While working for 10 years as an assistant, he gave golf clinics and lessons to both the youth and adults of the area. Earle is preceded in death by three brothers and one sister. He is survived by daughter, Gwen Case of Atlanta, Ga.; son, Earle M. Baker, Jr. of Vicksburg, Miss.; two step sons, Tommy and Ronnie Pierce of Yorktown, Va.; three step daughters, Judy Watson of Richmond, Va., Kathy Robinson of Bettendorf, Ia. and Susan Antley of Charleston, S.C. and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 2, 2009 from 6-7 pm at Peninsula Funeral Home. Chapel services will be held at 7:00 pm following the visitation. Services will be officiated by Rev. James Robinson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund, 1021 Big Bethel Road, Hampton, Va. 23666. PENINSULA FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.