Melvin Edwin Baker

Melvin Baker left us Feb. 18, 2023, leaving behind a legion of heartbroken family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 12:00pm, Friday, February 24, 2023, at Waco Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, with visitation an hour prior to the service.

He was born in Crawford, the seventh of eight children of Henry and Bertha Mae (Plemons) Baker. Graduating from McGregor High School in 1946, he enlisted in the Marines in 1947 at age 17. He was assigned to the First Provisional Marine Brigade in Guam and honorably discharged in 1950.

He met the love of his life, Betty Jo Cook, while he was on leave. They married on May 30, 1949, and were together 71 years until her death in 2020.

He attended Central City Commercial College in Waco while working part time and joined the Supply Service at the VA Medical Center in Marlin in 1951. He had more than a dozen different agency assignments that took him all over the globe, from Manila, Philippines, to Washington D.C., finally back to Waco and Marlin where he retired as the Hospital Director after 47 years of service.

He was a Master Mason for more than 50 years, and a member of both Marlin Lodge 152 and Waco 92. He was presented the Golden Trowel award from both lodges. He was an Endowed Member of the Waco Scottish Rite and a member of Waco York Rite Bodies. He was proud to be a Life Member of Shriner’s International, Past Potentate and Recorder of Karem Shriners and an Emeritus member of the Board of Governors of the Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston.

A deacon of his church, Melvin was a former member of the Administrative Committee of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

He is survived by his sister, Jean Keith; children, Melvin “Buddy” Baker, Jr. and wife, Paula, Barry Baker and wife, Jodi, Brent Baker and wife, Judith, and Michele Richardson and husband, Steve; grandchildren, Wendy Baker, Alexis Richardson, Lindsay Baker, Kyle Richardson, Keith Richardson, and Crystal Johnson; and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 815 Market St., Galveston TX 77550