Eugene “Gene” Allen Baker, 63, of Creekside died Monday, August 5, 2013 at UPMC Montifiore Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was the husband of Kathleen Abbey-Baker. They were married July 15, 1989 and had just celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary.

Born October 16, 1949 in Mount Pleasant, PA, he was raised by his mother, the late Doris (Hair) Zorn and his step-father, the late Eugene Zorn.

Gene graduated from Frazier High School, 1967. He attended IUP, where he studied Philosophy. From early on, he had a passion for music and singing and was involved in various vocal groups and choirs throughout his life.

Gene was an honest hard worker and achiever. He was a General Manager of Sales at Specialty Tires of America, where he worked for 37 years. He valued integrity in business above all else.
In life, Gene loved his family completely. He was his wife’s best friend. He was an inspiration to his sons. He enjoyed joking and laughing with his siblings and other relatives. He called his mother every day, until her death in 2005. Gene adored his granddaughters Elise and Sophia. He was an accomplished home cook, an avid reader, and a book collector. He was certainly on team Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, not Miracle Whip. He was devoted to his faithful dog, Bo.

Gene leaves behind happy memories for his wife Kathy, of Creekside; Son, Matthew Baker and his daughter Elise of Durham, NC; Mitchell Baker of Raleigh, NC; and Eric and Beth Forsythe and their daughter Sophia of Baldwin. He is survived by the following siblings and siblings-in-law: Richard and Karen Baker of Dickerson Run; Carol and George Cable, of Dawson; Harold and Carole Baker, of Mt. Pleasant; Doris Naser and Tom Hayes, of Dawson; Shelly and Bill Myers, of Dawson; Bernie Magerko of Nemacolin; Joe and Laura Abbey, of Home; Michael Abbey, of Altoona; Ruth and Robert Stewart, of Durham, NC and Ray and Sharon Halsey of New Hampshire. Gene is also survived by his in-laws, Howard and Iva Abbey of Chambersville and Helen Halsey of Durham, NC. Numerous nieces and nephews, as well as grand-nieces and nephews also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; former spouse, Patricia Lynn Halsey; siblings Bev Magerko and Harry Baker; and former father-in-law George Halsey.

Gene Baker went to rest surrounded by the love and support of his family. He was not afraid. He had faced a debilitating illness with strength, positivity and dignity. At the end, he chose to reject the illness and embrace peace. He will be missed by family, by friends—both old and new and by his colleagues. Gene Baker was a good man.

For anyone wishing to make a donation in Gene’s memory, the family suggests: The Children’s Advisory Commission of Indiana County toward “family events”, 300 Indian Springs Road, Suite 203, Indiana, PA 15701 or Indiana County Humane Society, 65 Haven Drive, Indiana, PA 15701. Gene’s family also encourages people to become organ donors so as to make organs available to patients like Gene, who died while waiting to receive a transplant.

A visitation for family and friends will held Friday, August 9, 2013 from 4PM-8PM at Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home of Indiana, 965 Philadelphia St.

To send flowers to the family of Eugene Baker, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.