Walter "Wally" Hugh Baker

Walter "Wally" Hugh Baker, 71 of Cocke County, TN lost his battle with cancer on Wednesday, September 20th, 2017. He was born Tuesday, October 2nd, 1945 to Mr. Thomas Walter Baker and Mrs. Pearl James Baker. I could write this obituary about all the family and friends he was proceeded in death by, and all the family and friends he was survived by, but this newspaper wouldn't be big enough to list them all. If you are reading this obituary, you either knew him, or you've likely came into contact with him at some time in your life. He drove a school bus for many years. There are people in this community that rode the bus with him from K-12, and lots of them loaded their own children onto that same bus. I could share a lot of good stories, and a lot of bad stories about his life, and I know many of you could do the same. However, I am going to tell you about the only one that matters. He was an alcoholic of the worst kind, and he knew it. He had been far away from God since he was a young boy, but that wouldn't stop the grace of God just hours before he lost his voice on Friday September 8th at 11:00AM. Just like Jesus states in The Book of Matthew, "He was converted and became as a little child". Dad ask Jesus to forgive him, and come into his heart and life. I've gotten a lot of encouraging words, and a lot of troubling questions since sharing the story of his salvation with others. The encouraging words are the ones that say, "Praise the Lord I've been praying for him for years", or "I am so thankful that he got saved". The troubling questions are the ones that ask, "how is it even possible to live your entire life the way that he did, and now be able to go to heaven?" My reply remains the same every time; Jesus died for all our sins the day he was nailed to the cross. He gave us everlasting life the day he rose from the grave. It doesn't matter to Jesus when we ask for his forgiveness. It doesn't matter to Jesus if we ask him the minute we start to talk, or the minute before we can no longer talk. It only matters to Jesus that we ask. If Dad were here right now, he'd ask each of you to not waste your time on anything this world has to offer. He'd tell you to turn from the deception of the evil one, and turn back to God before it's too late. He'd tell you not to stop praying for those loved ones that aren't saved. He'd tell you exactly what the man said that prayed with him on that faithful day, "If Walter Baker can be saved, anybody can be saved!" Then Dad would walk off sporting that big sniggering smile, with that huge ring of keys jingling from his side and say: I love you all, and I'll catch ya later. The family wishes to acknowledge their appreciation to the staffs of Newport Medical Center, Smoky Mountain Health and Hospice and Clayton Presnell, Johnny Walker, Paige Rhodes, Ann Balch & Martha Dyer. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, September 23, 2017, 1:00pm at Farrar Funeral Home Dandridge Chapel with Rev. Billy Shelton officiating. Entombment to follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 12:00 (Noon) to 1:00pm prior to services at FARRAR FUNERAL HOME, DANDRIDGE.