TUPELO - Charles E. Baker, 79, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, at Sanctuary Hospice House after a brief illness. He was born in Lee County on Jan. 14, 1932, to James and Eppie Baker and lived in the Auburn community for many years. He was a Korean War veteran, serving in the United States Navy. He was a self-employed heating and air contractor. He attended Oak Hill Methodist Church. He was a Mason and a Shriner and served as the president of the Lee County Shriners in the year 2000. He believed in hard work and helping others. He volunteered his time by working at the Coliseum for the Shriners. He enjoyed fishing, watching TV and playing electronic solitaire. His greatest joy was driving the hospital van back and forth to Shreveport, La., and Galveston, Texas, transporting children to the hospitals.

Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Donny Riley officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Baker of Tupelo; three daughters, Leasha Segars of Saltillo, Sonja (Chad) Nichols of Union County and Rebecca Keltz of Key West, Fla.; five sons, Wayne Baker of Marietta, David (Donna) Baker of Guntown, Barry Baker of Union County, Joel Baker of Tupelo and Robert (Sheila) Keltz of Tupelo; two sisters, Eunice (Ed) Campbell of Des Moines, Iowa, and Faye (Bobby Joe) Wooldridge of Mantachie; one brother, Merle (Margaret) Baker of Saltillo; one brother-in-law, Carl McKissick of Saltillo; his mother-in-law, Ann Norton of Tupelo; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Frances McKissick.

Pallbearers will be Zane Treadaway, Logan Treadaway, Eric Baker, John Michael Segars, Matthew Duffie and Barrett Rowsey.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today.