Obituary of Oscar Burlie Baker, Jr.

Services for O.B. Baker, 84, will be held at 11:00, Monday, September 24, at Saluda River Baptist Church, officiated by the Reverend Charles Westbrook, with burial, Military and Masonic rites in Woodridge Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00, Sunday, September 23, 2018, at Thompsons Funeral Home of Lexington.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Family Life Center at Saluda River Baptist Church, 3459 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC  29169.

Mr. Baker died September 19, 2018, after a brief illness.  Born in Glendale, S.C., he was the son of the late Oscar Burlie Baker, Sr. and Eva Lawing Baker.  He was a member of Saluda River Baptist Church where he served as Deacon numerous times.  Mr. Baker retired from Baker’s Hairstyling after 54 years as a barber.  O.B. served his community by cutting the hair of his customers when they were in the hospital, nursing facilities, and shut-in at home – always at no charge.  He was also a member of Sinclair Masonic Lodge #154 where he served as Past Master and past District Deputy of the Grand Lodge.   He also was a past Brotherhood Director for the Lexington Baptist Association and a member of The American Legion.

O.B. was very proud to have served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict on The Boxer and The Lake Champlain.  He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and was affectionately known as “Pop” to his grandchildren.  He enjoyed restoring cars, cooking, and yard work.  He sponsored numerous fund raisers for his friends, Sinclair Masonic Lodge and his church.  He also loved his two dogs, Reagan and Roxy.

He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, William Farrell “Bill” Baker; his first wife of 52 years, Rebecca Carlisle Baker; and a son, Richard Carlisle Baker.  Surviving are his wife of 15 years, Barbara Baker; son and daughter-in-law, David and Sharon Baker; step-children, Michelle Joiner, Darren Koon and Denise Yarborough; grandchildren, Katherine, Andrew and Alex Baker, Katie and Chelsea Baker, Blake and Wesley Koon, and Drew and Carrie Lynn Joiner; brother-in-law, Lewis (Dee) Carlisle; an aunt, Becky Baker; and lifelong friends, Don and Lynn Johnson and J.O. and Vernell Martin.

We could not have gone through this journey without the loving support of our church family – especially June Shealy, and the comforting and compassionate staff at Warriors Walk at the VA Hospital.  It gives us great comfort knowing that O.B. is now in Heaven.