Robert L. Baker Sr.

The family patriarch, Robert L. Baker, Sr. 87, a lifelong resident of Keene, NH, will be greatly missed with his passing on Friday, December 16, 2022 at the Pine Rock Manor in Warner, NH, following a period of failing health.

His parents, Leon W. and Katherine (Healey) Baker, welcomed their son into the world on September 29, 1935 in Manchester, NH. Robert was a 1953 graduate of Keene High School. While in high school, he was a standout member of the basketball team, and held the record for the highest single-game scorer for many years.

Robert served in the United States Army from 1954 until 1956, transferring to the Army Reserves where he served for six years, until his honorable discharge in 1962.

Robert’s work career began as a quality control technician with MPB Corporation in Keene. He later worked for twenty-five years as a lithographer with Stone Press and later Brattleboro Book Press. Robert was also a part-time special patrol officer with the Keene Police Department for ten years in the 1960’s.

When not hard at work, Robert enjoyed watching all of the Boston sports teams; taking in the bounty of the great out-of-doors, fishing and hunting; and traveling to the beaches of Maine, Hawaii, Texas, California and Florida, just to name a few.

Robert is survived by his children, Robert L. Baker, Jr. of Keene, and his fiancée Pareena Kanya, Karen McCarthy and her companion, Michael McCarthy, of Keene, Laura French and her husband, Ralph, of Antrim NH, Diane Seavey and her husband, Rick, of Antrim, Linda Smith and her husband, Jody, of Alstead, NH, Michael Baker, of the Marshall Islands, Kelley Smith and her husband, Ron, of Jaffrey, NH, Matthew Baker and his wife, Tammy, of The Woodland, TX; his grandchildren, Jennifer Baker, Robert L. Baker, III, and his fiancée, Jessica Dubois, Austin Baker, Ethan Baker, Ricky Seavey, and his wife Wanda, Ashley Reynolds and her husband, Bradley, Joseph Smith and his fiancée Stephanie Nichole, Michelle Baker, and her fiancée Paul Carpenter, Bryant Baker, Murphy Baker, Tanner Baker, Jason Smith, and Emily Smith; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Zelda, and Marcus Seavey, Joseph R. Smith, Ari, Victoria, and Valencia Reynolds, Brantley Davis, Sawyer and Landon Kinson, Zelda Seavey, River and Ridge Baker, and Cullen Carpenter; a brother-in-law, Floyd Peets of Belton, SC; and Mr. Bakers’ companion of the past several years, Wyona Swain of Charlestown, NH. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Helen (Rezek) Baker on April 16, 2016; two grandchildren, Raquel Baker and Steven Smith; a brother, William Baker; and a sister, Kathleen Peets.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 30, 2022 at 11:30am in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial with committal prayers and military honors will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Friday morning from 9:00 to 11:00am at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Baker’s memory to St. Vincent DePaul Society, c/o Parish of the Holy Spirit, 161 Main Street, Keene, NH 03431.