Ralph Page Baker, 78, retired employee of Dupont/Spontex, well-known farmer and resident of Jones Valley Road in the Water Valley Community, died Tuesday, November 1, 2005, as the result of a farming accident.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Saturday at First United Methodist Church on West Seventh Street in Columbia with Rev. Earl Davis and Pastor Dave Baker officiating. Burial will be in Goshen Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. and Friday from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Saturday after 12:30 P.M. in the church atrium.

Memorials may be made to Goshen United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Winfred Baker, 4638 Bass Alderson Road, Williamsport, TN 38487 or American Diabetes Association, P. O. Box 1132, Fairfax, VA 22038. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com.

The Maury County native was the son of the late Robert D. Baker and Essie Page Baker. On November 13, 1949, he married Mai Elizabeth Woody Baker who preceded him in death on May 6, 1998. He was an alumnus of Sylvan Heights School and served in the U. S. Army stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington. He retired after thirty-eight years employment at Dupont/Spontex in Columbia.

Mr. Baker was instrumental in the founding of Keith Baker Homes, Inc. He was a lifelong member of Goshen United Methodist Church where he served as administrator of Goshen United Methodist Cemetery Fund. He was also a member of Water Valley Community Club, Hickman Farmers Co-op, Maury Farmers Co-op, Maury County Farm Bureau, and Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association. He was one of the founding Board of Directors for the Central Basin Angus Association and was former superintendent of Maury County Junior 4-H Livestock Show.

Survivors include one daughter, Cynthia "Cindy" Lynn Baker of Water Valley Community; two sons, Keith (Sandy) Baker of Columbia; Winfred (Cindy) Baker of Water Valley Community; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Sue (Hubert) Baker of Water Valley Community; five grandchildren, Mrs. Angie (Ben) Rosson and Brooke Baker, both of Columbia , Jeremy (Ashlee) Baker of Thompson Station; Will Baker of Martin; and Robert Baker of Water Valley Community; one great grandchild, Chance Bennett Rosson of Columbia; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Hubert Baker, Dale Baker, and Horace Baker and one sister, Marie Baker.

Pallbearers will be Cecil Baker, J. W. Shouse, Robert Baker, Will Frank Woody, Harold Watson, Henry Harris, Charles Pigg, Gary Beard, Vince Scott, Van Boshers, Nathan Johns, and Brian Jones.

Honorary pallbearers will be men of Water Valley Community, men of Goshen United Methodist Church, retired employees of Dupont and Spontex, employees of Keith Baker Homes, Inc., employees of Heritage Bank & Trust (in organization), David Alderson, George & Mary Endsley, George Dodson, Carl Hutcherson, Guy Potts, Bobby Potts, L. Z. & Libby Davis, Darrell Brown, Danny Alderson, Joe Frank & Lorene Skillington, James Taylor, Elton & Sharon Sisk, W. L. Beasley, Renis & Dot Baker, Roger Baker, Baxter Blackburn, A. C. Harlan, Ed Harlan, Bobby & Katherine Scott, Jerry Kennedy, Billy Kennedy, Clyde Ferrell, Ewell B. & Imogene Harris, Steve & Jan Tierney, Kevin & Karen Barnes, Jeff & Jennifer Holt, Robert & Cindy Stephens, Jeff & Lisa Musgrove, Eddie & Jessica Maynard, Alison Dunham, David & Susan Barker, Richard Herrington, Bob & Ann Murrell, Ms. Bill Kiker, Keith & Susan Feinstein, Jay Ritchie, Earl Pittman, Mike Moriello, Pat & Terry Sweeney, Carl & Gloria Cain, Bryan & Gloria Dodd, Bobby & Diane King, Bill Harris, Randy Jones, Emerson Potts, Frank Jones, Willis E. "Sonny" Jones, Raymond Truette, Maynelle Walker, Steve Hill, David Wise, Stewart Fisher, Dr. Marie Gorski, Dr. Gaylon Harris, Dr. Jeffrey Herring & staff, Dr. Andy Sisk, and Dr. Vance Hendrickson.