Pastor George Baker

BAKER, GEORGE P. Pastor George P. Baker, age 93, of Grand Rapids, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. He was born in Massillon, OH on April 5, 1919 to Robert L. and Della (Jennings) Baker. George was saved, baptized and ordained at the Bethel Baptist Church in Denver, CO. In 1941 he graduated from Moody Bible Institute and where he met Mary Ellen Steed. They were married on August 29, 1942. Pastor Baker served with his wife, Mary as a missionary under the American Sunday School Union in Missouri for four years; under the South American Mission in Peru for 17 years and in Colombia for four years; under the American Indian Crusade in Wyoming, AZ and New Mexico for 16 years; and under Bible Studies by Mail in New Mexico from 1979-1999. He was a member of Berean Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. Pastor Baker is survived by his sons: Mark and Lili Baker of Grand Rapids, David and Judy Baker of San Antonio, TX; daughters: Marcia and Leland Hovingh of Rockford, MI., Anne and Tom Hernandez of Portland, OR; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Robert (Jerene) Steed; sister-in-law, Lois and Dr. John Wilson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary Ellen Steed Baker; brothers, Robert and Edwin Baker; sister, Virginia Davis; great-grandson, Landen Ray Hovingh; brothers-in-law, John Steed, Harold Lang, and Dr. Roy Wiarda; and sisters-in-law, Mary Steed, Louise Wiarda, and Esther Lang. The Service of Praise and Thanksgiving for the gift of Eternal Life for Pastor Baker will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Berean Baptist Church, 1574 Coit Ave., Grand Rapids, with Pastor Harold Legant officiating. Interment will be at Rosedale Memorial Park. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Bible Studies by Mail, PO Box 2077, Las Cruces, NM 88004-2077. Pastor Baker's family will greet relatives and friends at the Pederson Funeral Home on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com