Rev. Dr. Charles Crawford Baker

1926 - 2022

Rev. Dr. Charles Crawford Baker

March 13, 1926 - January 30, 2022

The Rev. Dr. Charles Crawford Baker, age 95, of Bristol, Tenn., went to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. He was born March 13, 1926 in Brush Creek, (Smith County) Tennessee, the first of five children to Charles Spurgeon Baker and Hattie Crawford Baker.

He was raised on a farm near the town of New Middleton, (Smith County) Tennessee. He entered the United States Navy on October 18, 1944 during World War II, where he served in the amphibious forces in the Pacific until Honorably discharged on June 21, 1946.

After the war, he worked for the auto makers in Detroit, Mich. then, Lockheed in Marietta, Ga. and Avco Aircraft in Nashville, Tenn. In 1961, he accepted a position as distributor with the Kirby Company and moved his family to Bristol. After a short time, he resigned from the Kirby Company and founded The Vacuum Center, Inc.

He was saved in 1938. In 1953 he became very active in Christian work, holding offices as teacher, deacon, trustee and other church positions. In 1971 he became pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Bristol, Va. He also served seven years on the board of Piedmont Bible College of Winston Salem, N.C. He received his earned Doctor of Ministries degree in 1994. In 1996, he became 70 years old and retired after 25 years as pastor. During his tenure as pastor, the Central Baptist Church grew from about 30 members to over 600 members, and recorded over 3,000 professions of faith in Christ as Savior.

After his retirement, he continued to preach revivals, serve churches as interim pastor, help other pastors, and serve the Lord wherever needed.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Fran Elizabeth Baker; brothers, Stephen Baker and Billy Love Baker; and sister, Doris Murphy.

Survivors include his wife, Josephine Bush Baker; children, Deborah Suzanne Miller, Danny Baker and wife, Susan, Billy Paul Baker and wife, Deborah; twelve grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; sister, Lenora Dennis; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at Belle Meadows Baptist Church with Dr. Dewey Williams, the Rev. Benny Bowman, Dr. Roy Branson and the Rev. Paul Ketron officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 until 6:45 p.m. prior to the service. Entombment will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2022, in the Glenwood Mausoleum with military honors conducted by the Veterans Honor Guard DAV 39 and United States Navy Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Belle Meadows Baptist Church Mission Fund, 619 Wagner Rd, Bristol, VA 24201.

Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Arrangements have been made with Weaver Funeral Home and Cremation Services.