Kenneth Leroy Baker, 82, of Greenville, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at Upper Valley Medical Center, Troy, Ohio. He was born on August 21, 1941, in Greenville, Ohio, the son of the late Clarence and Betty Jane (Hollopeter) Baker.
Kenneth was a 1959 graduate of Greenville High School; he had several jobs in his early years, working at Corning Glass in Greenville until 1982; during that time, he was president of the union (local and international); he then became a United Methodist Minister, he served churches in Darke, Morgan, Meigs, and Mercer counties before retiring and moving back home to Greenville.
In 2020 he went to Village Green Health Campus, where he continued to preach on Sundays in the home. If any residents or families wanted someone to have prayer with them, he would be there for them. During his ministry, he was involved in many things, Chaplain at hospitals, worked with alcohol and drug patient’s organizations, clothing and food pantries, being president of some.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Janice (Hoblit) Baker, on November 5, 2018; his daughter, Teresa (Baker) Hiestand; his sister, Mary Jane Heath; his brothers-in-law, Ronald Hollopeter, Wilbur, Larry, and Rodney Hoblit; and his sister in law, Louise (Hoblit) Hunley.
Kenneth is survived by his children, Rick (HyunMi) Baker of Racine, Ohio, and Jana (Rob) Holland of Greenville; his grandchildren, Josh (Mandy) Baker, Jamie (Hannah) Baker, Kris Wentworth, Christopher Baker, Ashley (Braden) Spencer, Austin (Sydney) Baker; his great-grandchildren, McKenna, Weston, Kenzie, Kolton, and Ronin; his sister, Janet Sue (Baker) Hollopeter; his brother in laws, Clifford, Carl, Robert “Don” (Sue) Hoblit, Dale Hoblit; his sister in laws, Ann Fair, Carolyn (Ronald) Stamps, Marian (Charlie) Miller, Lois Hoblit, Delsie Hoblit; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, Greenville, Ohio, with Rev. Marla Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Mote Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, October 5, 2023, and 1 hour prior to services on Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Village Green Activity Fund or to the family.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.zecharbailey.com for the Baker family.
