David Edward Baker

David Edward Baker II of Corbin, Kentucky, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday evening, December 26, 2023, from his Middlesboro, Kentucky, residence. He was in the arms of his loved one, Regina, as he passed from this life to heaven. His final words were” I’m Going Home. “

David was born on August 6, 1953, and lived in Stearns, Kentucky, with his parents, David E. Baker, Sr., and Thelma “Joy” Baker, and brother, Roger Baker. The Baker family moved to Gray, Kentucky, when David was a young boy and he attended Lynn Camp School. David lived across the street from his maternal Grandparents, Jennie (Jennie Maw) and B.R. (Daddy Paw) Campbell. He enjoyed spending time with his cousins and holidays at his grandparents’ home. As a boy, David loved the outdoors and spent summers and after school riding horses, canoeing, and hunting with Dennis Hart and his lifelong friend, David Logan. David also liked riding his bicycle and often made trips to downtown Corbin to visit with his paternal Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Chester and Ollie Baker.

David attended grades 9 through 12 at Corbin High School and on June 1st, 1971, he graduated with his High School diploma. David then moved to Marrietta, Georgia, to work in the civil engineering highway department with his father. After a year of working and saving for college, he attended Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky. He worked in Corbin, Kentucky, at IGA, then Kroger while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and graduated in August 1976. David continued to work at Kroger in management until his cousin, the former Dr. Glen Ray Baker, asked him to manage his Internal Medicine/Pulmonary Medical Practice. David enjoyed working with Glen and the staff.

Not only did David manage a medical practice, but he was also an entrepreneur and invested in several businesses. He was a partner with Dale Johnson, PharmD, in the store, Fabric Village, located in the Trademart Shopping Center. David was also a managing partner in the construction company, BriTin, and investment partner in other medical companies. Eventually, David left those businesses and worked with Bill and T.R. Storms at Johnny Wheels. He liked working with the public and made a host of new friends talking about one of his passions, cars. He was a huge car enthusiast, everything from classic cars, hot rods, to the exotics. David shared this enthusiasm with his girlfriend, Regina, and son, Justin and his family, and friends, as they attended various car shows from Corbin to Somerset to Pigeon Forge and the Concours in Lexington and Cincinnati and Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale Arizona. His knowledge of car history was vast. He often could recall the date of an event by the type of car he or his family was driving at the time.

David was a pilot and owned several airplanes, but his Bonanza V Tail was his favorite. Another hobby David enjoyed was boating. David and Regina spent Saturdays and summer holidays on Laurel Lake cruising in his Crown Line Boat. The family, Justin, Brandi, and Regina, liked to go tubing and water skiing as often as possible.

David adored his only child, Justin, and his family. His daughter-in-law, Brandi Phillips Baker, was like a daughter to him. They talked frequently, sharing the events of the day. His granddaughters, Whitley Amanda Joy Baker (18) and Paisley Michelle Grace Baker (9) filled his heart with love and laughter. David enjoyed visiting the family in Arizona and taking the girls to shop, to movies, and to restaurants. He enjoyed taking the girls on vacation and their visits to Kentucky to see “Papaw Baker.” Their trips included the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Utah, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Pigeon Forge and Nashville, Tennessee. Still their most memorable vacation was on the California Coast from Southern to Northern California. It was an adventure that David loved and cherished and spoke of often.

Upon his retirement in 2017, David became an avid shooter, and he was elected the Vice-President of the Cumberland Valley Sportsman League. David also spent additional time with Regina. They enjoyed going to events and restaurants and landscaping the yard. He spent lunch time with “the lunch gang” at different local restaurants in Corbin. He became great friends with these men as they discussed local and world politics and the current events.

David loved his family and enjoyed attending the annual Baker and Campbell family reunions. His most recent Holidays, including Thanksgiving (2023) were spent at the home of Cousin Carl and Jennie Lynn Campbell Hammons and their children and grandchildren.

Tragically, David was diagnosed with very advanced ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease in July 2023. It was a disease that robbed him of his independence. He moved to Middlesboro, Kentucky in August 2023, to live with Regina and her mother, Carolyn. They provided care for him until his death.

Lastly, but most importantly, David was a wonderful Christian man that loved the Lord. He accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of seven during Vacation Bible School. He was a member of Central Baptist Church, Corbin, Kentucky.

David was preceded in death by his parents, David Edward and Joy Campbell Baker (Corbin, KY), only brother, Roger Baker (Ellijay, GA), and his maternal and paternal grandparents, B.R. and Jennie Ridner Campbell (Gray, KY) and Chester and Ollie Crook Baker (Corbin, KY), respectively.

Left to mourn his passing are his beloved only child, Justin Baker and wife Brandi Phillips Baker, and granddaughters Whitley and Paisley Baker, all of Chandler, Arizona. His longtime girlfriend/fiancé and caregiver, Regina L. Mason, Middlesboro, Kentucky. Jenny Lee Adkins (Sevierville, TN) and Son, Tucker; Jennie Hammons (Lily); Linda Bowling (Jacksonville, FL); Ricky Campbell; Dallas Campbell; Bob Mllen ; Major Tom Corey; Ron Corey.

Services for David Edward Baker II will be as follows:

Visitation will be Tuesday evening, January 2nd, 2024, from 5 pm to 7 pm at VanKirk-Grisell Funeral Home, Corbin, Kentucky.

The funeral services will be at 7 pm with the Rev. Bobby Joe Eaton presiding.

The burial will be at Pine Hill Cemetery, Corbin Kentucky, on Wednesday, January 3rd at 1 pm. The processional will begin at 12:30 pm at VanKirk Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be David Logan, Tim Logan, Ronnie Moses, Danny Harrell, Dale Johnson, Dennis Hart, and Justin Baker.

Honorary pallbearers are Paul Jones, Carl Hickman, and Ed Sursa.

In lieu of flowers the family would ask that donations be made to the following organizations:

HealthWell Foundation – ALS

20440 Century Blvd, Suite 250

Germantown, MD 20874

(800) 675-8416

http://www.healthwellfoundation.org/donate/

In 2022 99% of donations went directly to Patient Grants and Services. Less than 1% was used for administrative costs. It is ranked as Americas #1 Charity 2022.

Pine Hill Cemetery

Corbin, Kentucky 40701

Arrangements by VanKirk-Grisell Funeral Home, where messages may be written to the family at vankirkgrisellfuneralhome.com