James Dee Baker, age 92, departed this life for his heavenly home on Monday, September 11, 2023 at the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Jim was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio on April 26, 1931 to the late Dee F. Baker and Frances P. (Kirschner) Baker. He graduated from Purcell High School in 1949.
James is survived in death by his wife of 29 years, Elizabeth Ruth (Green) Baker, who is from the Elk Mills area of Tennessee. He is also survived by a brother, Richard Baker, from
Cincinnati, Ohio. He also had many nieces and nephews, and children from a previous marriage.
James was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Dolores Mattcheck of
Sterling Heights, Michigan.
James retired as the head of Safety and Security at the National Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in Arlington, Virgnia in 1993. He and his wife, Ruth, had lived in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and the Tri-Cities area since that time.
Jim served in the United States Navy for 4 years as an Aviation Machinists Mate. During the Korean War, he was stationed aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Essex, CV-9 in Fighter Squadron VF-53, (The Screaming Eagles). His Battle Group (Task Force 77) were the recipients of a Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean Service Medal.
A service to honor and celebrate the life of Mr. James Dee Baker will be conducted at 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton with the Reverend Ray Greene officiating. The family will receive friends between the hours of 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM in the funeral home chapel prior to the service on Sunday.
The graveside service will be conducted at 10:00 AM on Monday, September 18, 2023 at the Mountain Home National Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded at the graveside. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 9:45 AM on Monday.
Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations in James's honor to Leukemia Foundation, 191 Waukegan Road, Suite 105,
Northfield, Illinois 60093 or St. Jude's Childrens Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
The family would like respectfully request that no food be prepared or delivered to the home.
Words of sympathy and comfort may be shared with the family by visiting our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home-Riverside Chapel, 211 North Riverside, Elizabethton, TN 37643 (423)542-2232 is honored to serve the family of Mr. James Dee Baker.