Baker, Virginia Layman

Virginia Layman Baker, age 102 years, of Blacksburg, Virginia passed away on August 4, 2024, at home. Virginia was born in Athens, Tennessee on October 6, 1921.

After graduating from Knoxville High School in 1940, she attended the University of Tennessee (UT). Virginia was initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi in 1943 and graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from UT. She taught High School Home Economics in Benton, Tennessee before marrying Vernon Hunter Baker, the love of her life, in 1945.

Virginia met Vernon at the First Methodist Church while at UT in Knoxville and they were loving partners together in all things; including family and various business ventures in radio and real estate. The Bakers were the founders of Positive Alternative Radio Inc., a non-profit ministry.

Virginia lived by a strong work ethic, retiring from her Secretary/Treasurer position for the family businesses at age 97. In her spare time, she read many forms of literature, researched the family genealogy, cooked favorite family recipes, planted and maintained her large flower and vegetable gardens, and preserved the gardens’ harvest. Virginia was a member and longtime supporter of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, and a member of the Alleghany Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, James Gilford and Clio Hutsell Layman; husband, Vernon Hunter Baker; sisters, Ruth Elizabeth Layman Walker, Edith Clio Layman Hutsell and Ella Joyce Layman Murphy; brother, James Ray Layman; daughter-in-law, Judith Yvonne Jones Baker and, granddaughter, Alison Marie Baker.

She is survived by her children, Patsy Linda Baker, Edward “Eddie” Archer Baker, Carol Lavern Baker, Janice Marie Baker Fagan (husband Joseph), Vanessa Ann Baker Pavlik (husband Russell); grandchildren Eric Jason Crews, Jean Crews Piermattei (husband Steve), Diane Baker, Alan Baker (wife Audrey), Michelle Baker Hall (husband Seth), Kelly Fagan Anderson (husband Aaron), Andrew Fagan, Jessica Fagan Weedon (husband Chris), Erin Fagan Lewis (husband Alex), Eli Fagan, Hunter Pavlik (wife Mary Beth), Sean Pavlik (husband Stephen Salazar), Matthew Pavlik (wife Anna); sister Hazel Christine Layman Dake; eleven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at McCoy Funeral Home at 1 p.m., Monday, August 12, 2024, with a memorial service following at 2 p.m. officiated by Pastor Brad Dulaney of Blacksburg United Methodist Church. Interment at Memorial Gardens of the New River Valley following the service.

The family would like to thank Intrepid USA Hospice in Radford, Virginia for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for Macular Degeneration Research to:
A BrightFocus Foundation Program
22512 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg, MD 20871