Charles E. Baker

Charles E Baker passed away on January 3, 2020. Charles leaves behind a legacy many will never be able to match due to his character and love for life. Charles was married to the late Lois Futcher Baker for 67 years. Charles leaves behind 3 children: Scott (Pam) Baker, Matt (Lisa) Baker, and Penny (David) Baker Jester, 1 granddaughter: Rachael (Quinlan) Wolfe, and 4 grandsons: Christopher (Maria) Baker, Eric (Heather Fout) Baker, Ben (Beth) Jester and Aaron (Sarah) Jester, and 10 great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren (Haylee, CJ, Marlie, Oliver, Fern, Marco, Sebastian, Eva, Avery and Ethan). Charles started his life on the family farm in Jefferson Township near Dayton Ohio. He had 3 sisters (Ruth Francis, Mildred Kilheffer and Kathryn Michael), who have passed. At 18, he enlisted in the Marines to prepare to support the country in war. After 36 days on Iwo Jima, and being one of the few survivors, he returned home to marry his high school sweetheart, Lois. Charles spent 40 years at Standard Register prior to his retirement. He often shared his memories of growing up on the farm during the 30s and 40s and his experiences on Iwo Jima during WWII with family, friends and at public events. If you knew Charles, you also knew that he was a master ice cream maker, apple butter chef, golf-ball-gatherer, gardener and yard keeper extraordinaire. Yet his strongest character traits were his compassion for others, the love of his church and God, and unaltered commitment to his family. All of his family will miss him. His grandchildren have expressed their deep sense of loss: "The world seems a little darker today as one of the most brave, kind, caring men left this world to rejoin his wife and other loved ones in the next. A thank you doesn't seem like enough to say to the man who truly taught me what having a Grandfather was supposed to be like." "Today we lost another member of the greatest generation. My grandfather and hero passed away. He was a true Marine until the day he died. I love you grandpa. I know you will be watching over us. I hope we make you proud". "My grandpa. Best. Human. Ever." "I just wanted you to know how much I love you, and miss you. You are and always will be my hero and inspiration….How you loved us and how you loved our county will be passed down for generations."
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan.13 at the Southern Hills United Methodist Church in Kettering, 2287 S Dixie Drive for Charles Ellsworth Baker. To share your memories of Charles or leave a special condolence message for his family, please click Share Memories.