Joseph R Baker

Joseph Richard Baker, affectionately known as “Daddy Baker”, departed this earthly life on January 11, 2016 at the Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on January 10, 1937, he was the first of three children born to Mattie Lott Baker and the late Joseph J. Baker. Joseph was a graduate of William Penn High School in the Class of 1954. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country honorably as an Administrative Clerk, earning National Defense Service and Good Conduct Medals. While in the military, he met and married his first wife, Kay Frances Clarke and to this union their daughter Yvette, was born. After completing his tour of duty, he was employed as an Accountant with the Conrail Railroad System in Philadelphia, Pa. for over thirty-five years until his retirement in 1989. While working in Philadelphia, he was blessed with another opportunity to grow in love when he met his second wife, Elsie who was affectionately called “Peaches”. They married in 1985 and enjoyed their life of romantic bliss for twenty four years until her earthly transition in 2009. Their life together allowed them to live not only in Philadelphia, but in Columbus, Ohio prior to moving to Columbia, SC in January of 2009. In his spare time, he was a sports enthusiast and he loved spending time with his family. Joseph was a very decent, dependable man with an easy going nature. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and loving him. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a son Robert J. Walthall and his sister, Charlotte Moore. He leaves to cherish precious memories, daughters, Yvette Woods and her husband Barry of Philadelphia, Pa. and Regina Doster and her husband Robert of Columbia, SC, Belinda Allen of Columbus, Ohio, Diane Rhinehart and her husband Robert also of Columbus, his sons, Charles Walthall of Columbus, Ohio, and Keith Clarke of Philadelphia, Pa.; 23 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; his beloved mother Mattie Lott Baker of Philadelphia, Pa.; his sister, Vivian Alyce Baker of Harrisburg, Pa and his brother, Lenox Bundy and his wife JoAnne of Nellville, Georgia and a host of other relatives and friends.

Joseph R Baker

January 10, 1937 - January 11, 2016