Harry G. Baker

Harry Glenn Baker (88), of Rochester Township, pa (formerly of Everett, PA) passed peacefully into Eternal Life on August 16, 2025, at Celebration Villa of Chippewa, Beaver Falls, PA following a four-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born on April 7, 1937, in Lewistown, PA, the son of the late Gilbert Jay Baker, Sr. and Helen May Schaeffer Baker. Harry is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Karen Ruth Strohbach Baker.

Harry was named after his Grandfather Harry Charles Baker (b. 1874 – d.1960). “After I became an adult, I really learned about the wonderful life that Grandpa Baker had lived. Early in my life, while my father (Pap) was working out of town for the summers, my mother, brother Gilbert Jr. and I would stay with Grandpa Baker in Allensville while mom canned fresh vegetables and fruit for him. My brother and I would help Grandpa with small chores. We learned a great deal helping Grandpa and learning about his ways: work, life, gardening, and church. What a challenge it was going to be for me to maintain his standards.”

Harry was a graduate of Everett High School Class of 1955. He enjoyed trout stream fishing, hunting, vegetable gardening (and sharing the bounty with others), foraging for ginseng with his Pap and brother, and bowling. On April 8, 1976, he bowled an American Bowling Congress “sanctioned” 300 game, one of only two 300 games bowled in Beaver County that year. He was a member of Rochester Lodge No. 229, F. & A. M.

Harry was very active in all aspects of life at Grace Church: Council Vice President, Church Treasurer, Mission Endowment Committee, Property, the Men’s Cooking Team, Community Table, etc. He indeed “maintained his Grandpa Baker’s standards.”

Harry’s working career started in 1956 as a draftsman with American Bridge Co. (USSC) of Ambridge, PA. When the drafting room closed at the Ambridge Plant, he transferred to the South Side Pittsburgh office using Computer Graphics, retiring in 1987. He continued his Computer Graphics career with Michael Baker Engineers, retiring again in 1995.

In addition to his parents, Harry was preceded in death by a sister, Kathryn Ruth Baker Nicodemus (2010) and brother, Gilbert Jay Baker, Jr. (2013); and best friend, Fern W. Harmon (2022).

Also surviving are nephew, Jeffrey Nicodemus, Martinsburg, VA; great-nephew, Jason Nicodemus, Lovettsville, VA; cousin, Carol Baker Eckley (Harold) Allensville, PA; sister-in-law, Norma Baker, Freedom, PA; nieces, Amy Gerovac (Peter), Aliquippa, PA. and Michelle Hendricks, Conway, PA., sister-in-law, Linda Susan Strohbach Murphy, Las Vegas, NV; and brother-in-law, Richard Strohbach (Laura) Arlington, TX and numerous other nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.

Karen is thankful for the care provided Harry at Celebration Villa and the staff of Transitions Hospice.

Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 393 Adams St, Rochester, PA 15074 or to the Alzheimer’s Association at ALZ.org.

Cremation was handled by Saul-Gabauer Funeral Home, Inc. Rochester, PA. A memorial service is scheduled on Saturday, August 30, at 11 AM, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rochester, PA., Reverend Gregory S. Clagg, presiding.