Robert J. Baptiste
Robert J. Baptiste, 90, of Chicora Road, Chicora, died Friday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice.
He was born in Summit Township on July 10, 1922, and was a son of McKinley and Mary Kuhn Baptiste.
Bob was retired from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. He worked in several Butler area stores and retired in September 1984 as the manager of the Greater Butler Shopping Mart location after 21 years. Prior to that, he worked at the former Heim Hardware Store on Center Avenue for 18 years and at the Bantam Car Co. prior to World War II.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theatre with Troop C of the 116th Cavalry.
He was a member of the St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, North Oakland, and also attended the St. Wendelin Catholic Church, Carbon Center. He was a charter member of the Herman Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Butler Area Lodge 8 of the Woodmen of the World.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Miller Baptiste, who he married June 10, 1950; four devoted daughters and their spouses, Joyce and William Geibel of Butler, Jacqueline and Edward Cashmere of Fenelton, Nancy and Richard Parker of Butler and Teresa and James Motko, of Butler; seven grandchildren, Stephanie (David) Thompson, Jason (Kristi) Cashmere, Renae (Chris) Bogdan, Kristen (Dan) Hilliard, Ryan Parker and Sarah and Kevin Motko; four great-grandchildren, Carson, Charlotte, Makenna and Cooper; three brothers, Joseph and George Baptiste of Butler and Lawrence Baptiste of West Sunbury; and three sisters, Mary Catherine Curry of North Washington, Clare Mitch (Leonard) of Butler and Dorothy Cypher (Ronald) of Alabama.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
BAPTISTE — Friends of Robert J. Baptiste, who died Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, will be received at Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church, Carbon Center, 210 St. Wendelin Road, Butler. His nephew, the Rev. Charles Baptiste, and the Rev. Matt McLain will officiate. Interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, North Oakland.The family suggests that memorial donations be sent to either the VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001, or to the American Heart Association.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.
