Verle E. Baker

Verle Emerson Baker, age 94, of Dover, died August 18, 2013.

Born on August 7, 1919 in Wayne Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio he was the son of the late Allen G. and Viola Kerch Baker.


Verle was a member of the Dover First United Methodist Church and had been a long standing member of the Tusco Travelers Campers Club and VFW #3463. He was a charter member of the Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association and a member of both the Dover and Tuscarawas County Historical Societies. Verle was also inducted into the First Families of Tuscarawas County through the Tuscarawas County Genealogical Society. Verle was involved in the Boy Scouts of America for over 40 years during which time he received the VFW Scout Service Award, District Award of Merit and the C. Bernie Myers Service Award. He was very proud when both his sons and his grandson achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Verle graduated from Wayne Township High School and soon went to work for Scott Refrigeration in Canton. This employment was interrupted by his "selection service" which required him to undergo basic training in the military and serve for one year. His one year stint resulted in five years following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. During these five years, Verle proudly served his country in the Antitank Company, First Headquarters Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, First Division of the U.S. Army. He participated in the landings of North Africa, Sicily and Normandy (D-Day), and fought through France, Germany, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe.

During these campaigns he received a battlefield commission promoting him to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He also received the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart among others.

Following his military service Verle went to work for Reliable Auto Parts and then the former Warner and Swasey Company in New Philadelphia, from where he retired in1982. Following his retirement he spent many years working at the Reeves Home and Museum and David Warther Carvings.


He will be sadly missed by his wife of 59 years, Phyllis A. Machan Baker and his children Clifford (Adeline) Baker of North Canton, Craig Baker and Michele (Glenn) Garber of Dover; his grandson Eric Baker of Pittsburgh, sister Twila (Don) Weber of Bellefontaine, Ohio, brother-in-law Robert (Wanda) Machan of Dover, and sister-in-law Mary Alice Jones of Akron and special friend Beth Gauvey of New Philadelphia.

Friends can call in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory at Dover on Tuesday from 5-8 pm. Private family graveside services will be held at the Dover Burial Park. Those wishing to express their fondest memories of Verle may do so by visiting the on line obituaries and flowers link on the funeral homes website.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church at 1725 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, Ohio 44622.