Lowell Baker

Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove, OK 918-786-2261 Lowell Eugene Baker was born March 7, 1948 and died peacefully at his home in Grove on November 13, 2015 after a very long illness. Lowell was born in Great Bend, Kansas to Evelyn (Johnson) Baker and Marvin Baker. He joined his older sister Linda on a farm near Burdett, Kansas, where they also operated a heavy equipment road construction business. He graduated from Burdett High School in 1966, and then attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas and Fort Hays State in Hayes, Kansas. He joined the Air Force in 1967 and served in Viet Nam with the Security Police. He left the military in 1973 and became a deputy with the Riley County Sheriff's Department and then joined the Kansas State University Police Department in Manhattan, Kansas. He left law enforcement to own and operate a wrecker/towing service in Manhattan for several years. That is where he met Kathy Lungren and they married on Christmas Eve in 1982 at Kathy's parent's home on Grand Lake. Lowell and Kathy moved to Grove in 1983 to join Kathy's family, where Lowell opened Baker Auto Body. He operated that business for more than 20 years until his health wouldn't let him continue. He became a private security officer at Bear's Den in Grove, then at The Coves near Cleora, OK. He finally retired in 2010. Lowell's father Marvin preceded him in death in 1976, and he lost his mother Evelyn just two years ago. She lived her last years at Grand Lake Villa in Grove where Lowell visited and cared for her most daily and served as an activities volunteer for nearly five years. Lowell was active in the Grove Rotary Club, served as it President in 1990 and as Governor's Representative for several District governors. He helped establish the Hickory Grove Volunteer Fire Department and served as it Chief for many years. He loved pheasant hunting, trout fishing and won the Missouri state Championship in trap shooting. He belonged to Grove First United Methodist Church and was active with the Methodist Men, the youth program and recently the Backpack Program. He helped with Grove Little League football and baseball, and was the first to volunteer whenever he saw the need. Lowell loved cars - old card, new cars, fixing cars, racing cars, building cars and repairing cars. He restored countless classics, won many trophies, and eventually retired with his favorite, his 1948 Chevrolet police car he built from the ground up. His membership in the Endless Memories Car Club in Grove has brought him great joy and friendship over the past few years. But his true passion was his family. He raised his boys on the farm in Hickory Grove, and taught them by showing them about hard work, responsibility and honest labor. He taught them the importance of friendship, loyalty and generosity by treating everyone he met with kindness and compassion and putting the needs of everyone else before his own. He was so very proud of the young men they have become, and thanked God ever day for the time he had to share with them. He was a man of few words, but he lived his life with great joy and appreciation and hoped to inspire them to do the same. Lowell leaves his wife Kathy of the home, his son Casey and wife Katie and grandsons Crawford and Cashel of Rogers, Arkansas, his son Travis and fiancée Maddi of Grove, and an anxiously awaiting the arrival of his first grand-daughter in April. He loved greatly his sister Linda Green and nephew Kris Seckman of Oklahoma City, his mother-in-law Darlene Lungren, brothers and sisters in-laws Jeff and Nancy Lungren, Terri and Dr. Michael David and Steve and Christi Lungren, all of whom now live in Grove. He found great joy in his nieces and nephews Clark and Kim Blankenship, Ashley and Bryan Bateman, Kylie and Justin Eskew, Holly and Mitchell Styles, Heidi and Justin Chizmar, Heather and Jeremy Castaldo, Siera and Travis Bailey, and Sadie and Matthew Spurlock. He treasured his great nieces and nephews Chase Blankenship, Anders Bateman, Eden Chizmar and Lily Castaldo. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law Herb Lungren whom he loved and respected as his own father. Lowell touched many lived and leaves countless friends and family who are blessed for having known him. He was an inspiration in his health and in his illness. He never gave up and always tried to bring joy to those around him, even on his last day. He had a servant's heart, and sweet and gentle spirit, and took great comfort in his faith. He loved his country and was proud of his family's history of military service. He will be missed by many as he leaves us for his heavenly reward where he rests in peace and celebration. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, November 20, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church of Grove. Lowell will be laid to rest in Hickory Grove Cemetery. Family and friends may leave online condolences by viewing Lowell's Book of Memories at www.honoringmemories.com. Services have been entrusted to Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove, Oklahoma.

Service Details

Friday, November 20th, 2015 2:00pm, First United Methodist Church - Grove

Interment Details

Hickory Cemetery