Donald Holmes Baker

Lenoir, NC- Mr. Donald Holmes Baker, Sr., of Lakeview Drive, Lenoir, died at his home on Saturday, April 5, 2008. He was 74. He was born June 13, 1933 to the late Wendell Holmes and Thelma White Baker in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Robert White Baker, also of Baltimore. Mr. Baker attended Friends School of Baltimore, where he was president of the student body and played goalie for the lacrosse team. He went to Duke University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, pledging the SAE fraternity, and playing on the Duke Lacrosse team. After working for Bethlehem Steel Company in Baltimore for a few years, he moved his young family to Lenoir to work for Fairfield Chair Company in 1962. It was while working at Fairfield that Mr. Baker had the opportunity to start Blue Ridge Furniture Company. The name was changed to Grand manor Furniture Company in the 1980?s. He retired as President and CEO in 2007. Don served the Lenoir community in many ways. He was a member and chairman of the former Lenoir City School Board during the process of school integration. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Lenoir for 35 years and a Paul Harris Fellow since 1982. He was the former chairman of the Foothills District of the Boy Scouts of America. He served on many local boards, including the Board of Trustees of CCC&TI, NCNB Bank, The United Way and the Caldwell Memorial Hospital Foundation. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Lenoir and a member of the First United Methodist Church. Mr. Baker?s hobbies included golfing, playing and teaching bridge and painting. Don is survived by his wife of 14 years, Jeanne Robinson Baker; three children, Donald Holmes Baker, Jr. and his wife Maria Jose of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, daughter Susan Baker Vernon and her husband, Hutch, of Baltimore, Maryland, and daughter Wendy Baker and her husband Jonathan Wilfong of Durham, NC; stepdaughter, Jeannie Robinson Larkin and her husband Nick of Lancaster, Kentucky; 6 grandchildren, David Mitchell Baker, Stephen Maury Baker, Elisa Maria Baker, Scott Hutchings Vernon, Katherine Haskell Vernon and Claire Baker Vernon. Memorial services will be held 4:00 PM Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church in Lenoir, conducted by Reverend John Fowler. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Caldwell Memorial Hospital Foundation, 402 Mulberry Street, SW, Lenoir, NC 28645, First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 209 Church Street, Lenoir, NC 28645 or Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, SW, Lenoir, NC 28645 Online condolences may be sent to the Baker Family at www.evansfuneralservice.com Evans Funeral Service of Lenoir is serving the Baker Family.  PDF Printable Version