HUNTERSVILLE — Samuel Hodge Baker, 73, died Wednesday(July 26, 2000) at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, Mooresville.

Born May 12, 1927, in Rowan County, Mr. Baker was a son of the late Edgar L. and Karie Karider Baker. He was a member of Hopewell PresbyterianChurch, Long Creek Masonic Lodge No. 205 and Huntersville Lions Club, and was a former member of Long Creek Optimist Club. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served during World War II and the Korean War.

Survivors include wife Jean Carrigan Baker; son Samuel H. Baker Jr.; daughter Emily B. Allen, Easley, S.C.; brother Edgar L. Baker Jr., Binghamton, N.Y.; sister Frances B. Eadie, Charlotte; and a grandson.

Graveside services were this morning at Thyatira Presbyterian Church at Mill Bridge followed by a memorial service at HopewellPresbyterian Church, Huntersville. The Rev. J. Ed Wayland conducted both services.

Raymer Funeral Home, Huntersville, was in charge.

Memorials: Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 10500 BeattiesFord Road, Huntersville, N.C., 28078; or Thyatira Presbyterian Church at Mill Bridge, 220 White Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28147.

Charlie William Ball

CHINA GROVE — Charlie William Ball, 77, 1150 Hwy. 153, died Thursday (July 27, 2000) at Durham VA Medical Center.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, Landis, is in charge.

Curtis Erskine Cobb

The funeral will be Saturday for Curtis Erskine Cobb, 85, 204 W. Corriher Ave., who died Wednesday (July 26, 2000) at the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks after a brief illness.

Born Nov. 4, 1914, in Asheville, Mr. Cobb was a son of the late Perry D. and Ellen Margaret Swinney Cobb. He was educated in the Asheville schools and attended junior college in Asheville.

A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corp, he fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He had retired from the State of North Carolina Department of Revenue.

He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where he was an usher, communion assistant, Sunday school teacher and an officer in the Fisher-Cox Sunday school class. Mr. Cobb had also volunteered with Meals On Wheels and the Prison Ministries.

His wife, Dorothy Barber Cobb, died July 14, 1992.

Survivors include sons Curtis E. “Buz” Cobb Jr., Huntersville, L. Kenn Cobb, Albany, N.Y., and Wayne S. Cobb, Hilton Head, S.C.; and seven grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, St. John’s Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Carl E. Sachtleben and the Rev. Jennifer Ginn. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Summersett Funeral Home.

Memorials: St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144; or Meals On Wheels of Rowan, Inc., P.O. Box 1914, Salisbury, N.C. 28145.

Bryce L. Cress

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Saturday for Bryce Leroy Cress, 81, 519 Chrysler St., who died Wednesday (July 26, 2000) at his home.

Born Oct. 8, 1918, in Salisbury, Mr. Cress was a son of the late Dorset L. and Bertha Hooks Cress. He had retired as a truck driver. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include wife Frances Hataway Cress; daughter Linda Cress Sanders, Mount Pleasant; and two grandchildren.

Services: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Tom Tucker and the Rev. Harold Adcock. Burial,Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials: Hospice of Cabarrus County, P.O. Box 1235, Concord, N.C. 28026-1235; or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 928, Concord, N.C. 28025.

Callie May Gray

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Saturday for Callie May Gray, 88, 1062 West C St., who died Wednesday (July 26, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born May 3, 1912, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Gray was a daughter of the late Lonnie Brown and Dora Simpson. She was a homemaker.

Her husband, Tommy Gray, died in 1952.

Survivors include daughter Virginia Elizabeth Goodman, China Grove; sister Beadie Helms, Concord; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services: Graveside, 1 p.m. Saturday, Oakwood Cemetery, Concord, conducted by the Rev. Bobby Kemp.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home, Concord. At other times the family will be at 1425 Saw Road.