Wendell C. Baker

Wendell C. "Winne" Baker, 89, of Franklin surrounded by his loving family went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday November 2, 2015 at UPMC Northwest after a long time battle with Parkinson's Disease.

A son of Harold E. and Lucy V. Orsega Baker, he was born in Oil City on August 25, 1926. He was a 1944 graduate of Franklin High School where he played basketball and football.

A veteran of the US Navy he served during World War II for 1 � years.

Wendell was employed at Joy Manufacturing Co. for 45 years. He began his career as a purchasing agent and later became Supervising Manager of Material Control. In 1992 he attained "The Pep Hall of Fame".

An active member of St. John Episcopal Church he had served as Senior Warden. He had also served on the Valley Grove School Board.

Wendell enjoyed gardening, woodworking, hunting, fishing, and watching and feeding "his" birds. He was well-known as a warm, kind man who was always smiling and kept everyone entertained with his jokes and pranks.

On November 4, 1949 he married the love of his life, the former Ruth M. Schiffer; they would have celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary Wednesday. Also surviving are two children Gary L. Baker and his companion Lisa Anderson and Robin M. Hall and her husband David Hall II; 7 grandchildren Christina (Dwayne) Finegan, Chad Wilkinson, David (Sarah) Hall III, Jason (Shannon) Baker, Shawn Baker, Ryan (Bethany) Baker, Heather Baker; 6 great-grandchildren Nathan and Breann Finegan, Drew Wilkinson, Emily Baker, Karsten Baker and David Hall IV and many nieces and nephews.

He very much enjoyed time spent with his children and grandchildren and will be remembered as a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who had an unfailing sense of fairness and a great sense of humor and wit.

The last surviving member of his family he was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Gene Baker.

Friends will be received in the Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 312 W. Park St. from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. John Episcopal Church, with Rev. Richard Rowe, officiating.

Military honors will be rendered by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard.

Memorial donations may be sent to St. John Episcopal Church, 513 12th St., Franklin PA 16323.

Online condolences flowers and sympathy cards may be sent to his family by visiting www.HuffFuneral.com