Louis Dell "L. D." Baker was born on June 2, 1935, in Marshall to Alvin M. and Virginia Baker. As his family sang around his bedside, he went home to his Savior on Friday, March 16, 2012. L. D. graduated from Butler High School in 1953 and attended Oklahoma BaptistUniversity. For more than 50 years, he faithfully served the Lord at many churches in the Greater Oklahoma City area, primarily as a minister of music, and was a member of The Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma. Upon retiring from the ministry, L. D. joined GracewayBaptist Church in Oklahoma City. Other than serving the Lord, there were few things he enjoyed more than spending time with his family and at every gathering, music, laughter and love abounded. He enjoyed telling jokes, and always made sure his pockets were full of candy for the many children at church who would run to hug him. He enjoyed telling jokes, and always made sure his pockets were full of candy for the many children at church who would run to hug him. He had five children together with Shirley: David, Kathy, Kelly, Jay and Kari. He married his current wife Marilyn on June 14, 1980. Her son Chris and daughter Marti were immediately embraced as children of his own. L. D. is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Norman, his brother, John Baker of Hodgen, and his children, David and Jerri Baker of Mustang, Kathy Baker Ishikawa of Norman, Rex Ishikawa of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Kelly Lang of Norman, Jay and Jennifer Baker of Norman, Kari and Casey Owens of Oklahoma City, Marti and Aaron Tidwell of Blue Springs, Mo., and Chris and Misti Gregston of Weatherford. He was Peepaw or "Peeps" to 18 grandchildren, Dru Baker, Dia Baker, Jonathan and Sarah Baker, Amy and Dustin Hopkins, Daniel Dupuis, Julie Dupuis, Matt Lang, Kandyce Lang, Addison Baker, Aubrey Baker, Morgan and Billy Sexton, Ashley Owens, Connor Owens, Blake Tidwell, Parker Tidwell, Landon Tidwell, Libby Gregston, and Marley Gregston, and eight great-grandchildren, as well as many other family members and countless friends. A celebration service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Graceway Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. The family will be receiving visitors 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Primrose Funeral Home, 1109 N. Porter, in Norman. In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to send contributions to Graceway Baptist Church in memory of L. D. Baker, 1100 SW 104th, Oklahoma City, 73139.