Franklin L. “Louie” Baker, Sr., of Keating Summit, Pennsylvania, was delivered into the hands of our Lord Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his family by his side.
Born November 22, 1941, at Marlinton, he was a son of the late Jesse and Letta Gay Baker.
Louie was a Vietnam Era Veteran serving with United States Army as a Radar Crewman at Dyess AFB, Texas, and Fort Gordon, Georgia, from 1964 to 1966. He was honorably discharged as a Specialist Fourth Class.
Besides his time in the Army, Louie worked many jobs from the railroad to logging, but retired in 2003 after 37 years of services to the former Ball-Foster Glass Container in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania.
Louie was an avid hunter and fisherman, whether it was trips to the pond with his grandchildren, or his much-loved Alaskan hunting, fishing and gold mining adventures with his son. He also enjoyed reading western novels, the Friday fish fry and walks with his fur-buddy, Lucky. He enjoyed Sundays after church, watching NASCAR races, spending time with family and walks through the woods. His greatest joy of all was spending time at his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sporting and life events.
He was a member of the Bald Eagle Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America, Enchanted Mountain Treasure Hunters and Dirt Digging Pennsylvania, finding many treasures long lost with time. He was a member of The American Legion and the National Rifle Association.
Louie found Jesus later in life and was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church in Emporium, Pennsylvania, and was actively involved with Esters Ministry and Food for the Soul Program.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Wilber “Beanie” Baker; sisters Betty Allman and Bonnie Riffle; and nephew Roy Riffle.
On February 1, 1992, Louie married Janice Wendling Baker in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by one aunt, Pauline Holsinger, formerly of Emporium, Pennsylvania; three sisters, Martha “Kay” Sherry, and husband, Don, of Keating Summit, Pennsylvania, Linda Baker, of Evans City, Pennsylvania, and Nancy Umbenhauer, and husband, Chuck, of Emporium, Pennsylvania; a brother, James “Jim” Baker, and wife, Sylvia, of Emporium, Pennsylvania; children, Franklin L. Baker, Jr., and wife, Judai, of Anchorage, Alaska, Bonnie Miller, and husband, William, of Coudersport, Pennsylvania, Joseph Baker, and wife, Tammy, of Ridgway, Pennsylvania, Lori Hansen, of Keating Summit, Pennsylvania, and Matthew Hansen, and wife, Keli, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life was held April 23 at the First United Methodist Church in Emporium, Pennsylvania.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Second Harvest Food Bank, c/o First United Methodist Church; the Potter County Animal Assistance Project; or the American Legion.
