Baker

Richard Baker, 72, formerly of Pittsburgh and Slippery Rock, died at 6:42 p.m. Thursday at his Poplar Street, Grove City residence, following an extended illness.

He was born Jan. 3, 1938 in Pittsburgh to Vincent E. and Julia Crockhill Baker

He retired from Otis Elevator Corp. in Pittsburgh and was a member of International Union of Elevator Constructors Local Union 6, in Pittsburgh.

Baker was a member of The Church of The Beloved Disciple in Grove City.

He was the 1957 Bantam Weight Golden Gloves Tournament Boxing Champ from the Glenn Hazel Boys Club, Hazelwood, Allegheny County.

He was a veteran of the United States Army and served in Germany during the Vietnam War.

Surviving are three children, Renata J. Baker and husband Jack Horan of Potomac, Md., Richard T. Baker and wife Patricia of Pittsburgh, and Eric Baker and wife Laura of Panama City Beach, Fla; eight grandchildren, Daniel Horan, Zachary Baker-Reed, Jessie Podomik, Tyler Podomik, Riley Baker, Mariah Baker, Colby Baker and Garrison Baker; a special friend, Jane Colosimo of Grove City; a sister, Sabina Marini and husband Nate of Pittsburgh; a brother, Vincent Baker and wife Flora, of Flinton, Cambria County.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

<B>BAKER</B> — A Mass of Christian burial for Richard Baker, who died Thursday, July 29, 2010, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at The Church of The Beloved Disciple, 1310 S. Center St. Ext. Grove City, with the Rev. Father Mark Hoffman as Celebrant.There will be no visitation hours.Interment and graveside committal service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Calvary Cemetery, 718 Hazelwood Ave., Pittsburgh.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either Carrick Community Boxing Academy, 2700 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227, or the Mercer County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1046, Hermitage, PA 16148.