Steven Baker

TROY - Steven M. Baker, 79, of Troy, passed away at 6:40 a.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2025. He was born in Dayton, Ohio on July 15, 1946, to the late C. Oscar and Josephine (Weinert) Baker. Steve married Martha A. Koenig Baker on February 8, 1969, in Botkins, Ohio, and she survives.

Steve is also survived by one son, Mark A. Baker of Colorado: one daughter, Stephanie M. Waller (Michael) of Pleasant Hill; five grandchildren, Oscar R. Baker and Oliver J. Baker of Colorado; Max M. Silk, Josephine B. Silk, and Matthew Waller of Pleasant Hill. He is survived one brother, Thom (Marsha) Baker of Piqua; two sisters, Leesa Baker of Piqua and Molly (Scott) Cameron of Piqua. Steve is also survived by one brother-in-law, John Koenig of Granville; three sisters-in-law, Sara (Joseph) Kreitzer of Botkins, Jean Evans of Fairborn; Judy Heitkamp of Minster and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Steve was preceded in death by one brother, Larry Baker, four sisters-in-law, Ann Baker, Rose Mary Grevenkamp, Mary Jane Koenig, and Betty Koenig; and three brothers-in-law, Michael Koenig, Ralph Grevenkamp and Philip Evans.

Steve was a graduate of Brunnerdale Seminary High School in 1964 and received an honorary degree from Edison State Community College. He was a Vietnam Veteran who served in the U.S. Navy for four years aboard the USS Sampson DDG-10 and the USS Henry B. Wilson DDG7. He received an honorable discharge in 1970. His career in broadcasting extended over 50 years, beginning at WPTW AM/FM Radio in Piqua. He transitioned into videography and later digital, working as a "one-man-band" reporting the news in Miami, Darke, Shelby, Auglaize and Mercer Counties in the Northern Miami Valley for WDTN and WHIO-TV. He held the title of WHIO TV Northern Bureau Chief and maintained a bureau in Troy for many years before retiring in December 2017. He then began an LLC and continued to work for WHIO-TV as a contractor for several more years.

Throughout his career, Steve was the recipient of many awards for his dedicated work including an induction into the Dayton Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He was very involved in the community, serving on the Boards of Directors for several educational and nonprofit organizations. He was a graduate of the original class of Leadership Troy in 1984 and was the driving force in establishing the LT Meet the Candidate Forum in 1990. He was the recipient of a National Distinguished Leadership Award, and the Troy Chamber Distinguished Citizen award, among many others. He enjoyed following the school and sports activities of his grandchildren. In later years, he spent many hours making rosaries for mission projects.

Steve was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Troy, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Eric Bowman on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 10:30 AM. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Troy. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 8:30 PM on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Baird Funeral Home. Contributions in memory of Steve may be made to the Miami County Dental Clinic, 70 Troy Town Drive, Troy, OH 45373 or to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 409 East Main St., Troy, OH 45373. Condolences may be expressed to the Baker family at www.bairdfuneralhome.com