On Friday, May 17, 2019, at the age of 98, Ret. Colonel Leary Green Baker went to be with the Lord. Leary was born on December 11, 1920, in Summit Point, West Virginia to the late Earl and Maude Baker. His family then moved to Winchester, Virginia where he grew up and graduated from James Handley High School. Leary earned his engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in 1942 and remained an avid “Hokie” fan the rest of his life. He married Beverly Shank Bowers on April 15, 1944 and together they raised three daughters, Judith Ann, Barbara Jean and Beverly Scott. Leary served on active duty in the Army during World War II and attained the rank of Colonel while serving in the Army Reserves post war. Leary began his professional career working for Lupton’s John Deere Farm Machinery in Winchester, Virginia and then later moved to manage a John Deere dealership in Hamilton, Virginia. In 1959, Leary, with his family, relocated to New Jersey to work for the federal government at Picatinny Arsenal. In 1980, Leary and Beverly retired to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where they lived for 25 years. They chose their beloved Shenandoah Valley as their final resting place.
Leary was a generous, kind, and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He had a seemingly boundless amount of energy and a good sense of humor. As a God fearing man, Leary had a passion for serving the Lord by helping others and serving God in many ways including his involvement in Kings’ Carpenters, Meals on Wheels, missionary work in Haiti and substitute teaching in public schools. He was a member of Harrisonburg Baptist Church and Virginia Freemasons.
In addition to his parents, Leary was preceded in death by his loving wife, Beverly, on January 19, 2015, as well as his sisters, Helen Marchi, Mary Katherine Leighty and Anna Margaret Anderson. He is survived by his daughters, Judith B. Foote, and husband, James, of Indiana, Barbara B. Payne of West Virginia and Beverly S. Gursky of Florida; seven grandchildren, Michael, Jonathan, Jeanne, Kristen, Brent, Sarah and Brian; 12 great-grandchildren, Amelia, Leanna, Alexander, Katherine, Braden, Ella, Paxton, Gunnar, Marlee, Hart, Davis and Theodore.
A private family graveside service with Military Funeral Honors was held on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens with Reverend Bradley Long officiating. There was no visitation. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the VMRC Employee Appreciation Fund- Crestwood, 1491 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, Va. 22802.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, VA has been handling the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyharrisonburg.com.
DONATIONS
Employee Appreciation FundCrestwood, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802
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