Edgar Kyle Baker, 76, of Daleville, died Friday, January 15, 2021 in Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital after contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Ed was born in Christiansburg on September 22, 1944, and lived in Botetourt County most of his life. He was the son of the late Edgar Caperton and Mary Kyle Baker. Ed was a proud graduate of the Danville Technical Institute (Danville Community College) where he forged some of his most important, life-long friendships. After spending the early part of his career as a draftsman at the Navy shipyards in Newport News and at Hercules in Covington, Ed made his way back to Botetourt where he built and ran a number of successful small businesses over several decades, and raised a family together with his wife of 51 years, Joann. His drive, determination and work ethic together with his kindness, generosity and penchant for mentoring generated many admirers, none bigger than his three sons.
Ed was a longtime, active member of the Daleville Church of the Brethren and volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Other than that, he didn’t have a lot of hobbies – he tried golf some over several years but for most of his life, he got satisfaction from work and particularly the resulting relationships he developed. Even after formally retiring, he continued to very much enjoy his efforts on the corporate boards of Bank of Botetourt, Friendship Manor and Rockydale Quarries. His favorite saying was “money is for saving and Saturdays are for working,” and he always seemed genuinely confused as to why none of his sons seemed interested in picking up second jobs on the weekends. Finally, after talking about it for about 30 years, he bought a house at Smith Mountain Lake, where he came to love watching the sunset over the water on his back porch.
In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Joann Shorter Baker, and his brother, Patrick O’Brian Baker.
Ed is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Edward and Charlotte Wimmer of Rocky Mount, Todd Baker of Daleville, Jeff and Deborah Baker of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, Melissa (Jamie) Crotts, Nicholas Baker, Aya Baker, and Kyle Baker; great-grandchildren, Hailey and Camden; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Rebecca Baker of Buchanan; and numerous nieces and nephews.
As a result of the ongoing pandemic, the family hopes to hold a memorial service celebrating Ed’s life later in the year. For those wanting to acknowledge Ed’s passing, the family asks that donations be made in Ed’s memory to the Daleville Church of the Brethren (P.O. Box 85, Daleville, 24083), Big Brothers Big Sisters (www.bbbs.org) or Good Samaritan Hospice (www.goodsam.care).
Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.
