LaVerne Baker

OTTUMWA:  LaVerne Baker, 85, of Ottumwa, Iowa and former Davis County, Iowa resident died September 5, 2009 at the Davis County Hospital in Bloomfield, Iowa.  He was born June 28, 1924 in Davis County, Iowa to Charley Olvin and Lila Larue Bowling Baker.  He married Mildred Marie Bolin June 19, 1945 in Bloomfield, Iowa.  She preceded him in death May 20, 2002.  He was a farmer and fence builder.  He served in the United States Navy during WWII.  He had been a resident of Ottumwa since 1999.

He is survived by a son, Tracy Baker of Ottumwa, Iowa; 4 daughters, Tamra Deevers and Trudy Major both of Albia, Iowa, Treva Baker of Bloomfield, Iowa, Tess Moore of Columbia, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Charlene Allen and Rosemary Allen both of Bloomfield, Iowa; and a brother, Robert Baker of Blairsville, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and a grandson, Toby Cox.

A memorial service will be at 1:30pm on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Iowa with Rev. Jim Matheney officiating.  Burial of the cremains with military rites performed by Reed Whisler Post #78 of the American Legion in Bloomfield will be in the Drakesville Cemetery.  Visitation will begin after 9am on Tuesday with the family present to greet friends from 6-8pm at the funeral home.  A memorial has been established to the Friends of the Bloomfield Public Library.