Dr. Ross J. Baker
Dr. Ross J. Baker, 79, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Morristown-Hamblen Hospital, resulting from injuries sustained in a car accident. According to his wishes, his body was donated to science.
Dr. Baker was the son of Dr. Philip S. Baker and Marilyn J. Baker and grew up in Oak Ridge, TN, where he graduated in 1963 from Oak Ridge High School. While attending the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, he played the flute and piccolo in the U.T. Marching Band. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from U.T. in 1967, he went on to earn a DDS degree from the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis, TN, in 1971.
Following graduation from dental school, Dr. Baker accepted a position with the Health Department in Danville, VA, working there until 1973. He then moved to Morristown and opened a private practice, where he and his dedicated staff over the years (Dorothy, Polly, JoAnn, Janice, Kathy, Buffy, Diane, and Donna) treated patients until 2017 when he retired after 44 years.
After retirement, Dr. Baker became a full-time “cheerleader” for his children and grandchildren, spending many hours at tennis matches, soccer games, basketball tournaments, trapshooting competitions, awards ceremonies, music concerts, and culinary events. He also enthusiastically took on the role of home chef, always experimenting in the kitchen and trying out new gadgets. In 2018 he began volunteering on Tuesdays at Daily Bread, where he became an expert at making cornbread and Tennessee toast.
Dr. Baker was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where he sang in the Chancel Choir and served on various committees, as well as being a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class and United Methodist Men’s Group. Recently, he enjoyed attending Sunday School class and Bible studies at Liberty Hill Methodist Church.
Since he was a young boy, Dr. Baker had been active with the Boy Scouts and continued to be involved throughout his life. He received his Eagle Award, the highest award in scouting, at the age of 14, when he was a member of Scout Troop 223 in Oak Ridge, TN. While in Morristown, Dr. Baker volunteered with Troop 91 at First United Methodist Church as an Assistant Scoutmaster for many years before he became the Scoutmaster from 1987 to1989. He continued to serve on the Troop Committee and conducted numerous Boards of Review each year up until his death.
In addition to his years of scouting, Dr. Baker had various other interests, including tennis, barbershop quartet, racquetball, hunting, fishing, kayaking, ham radio, Bridge, Rummikub, and learning new words.
Dr. Baker was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother and is survived by his wife, Barbara Baker; three children: Jennifer Baker, Philip (Dr. Ashley) Baker, and Carolyn (Dr. Andy) Hall; six grandchildren: Ensley, Ross Jackson, and Ellie Baker and Kathryn, Andrew, and Will Hall; and two sisters, Jean (Dr. Richard) Greer and Susan Mickelwait.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at First United Methodist Church in Morristown. The family requests that any memorials be in the form of gifts to Daily Bread, BSA Troop 91 at FUMC Morristown, or the Liberty Hill Methodist Church Building Fund.
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