Rev. Paul B. Baker

Chambersburg - Rev. Paul B. Baker, 88, of Chambersburg, PA, passed away Wednesday morning, March 10, 2021 at Brookview Nursing Center. Born March 15, 1932 in Chambersburg, he was a son of the late Roy A. and Pearl V. Barnes Baker. Paul attended the Stoufferstown and Fayetteville schools and graduated from the former Chambersburg High School in 1950. He attended the former Shippensburg Teacher's College (now Shippensburg University) for two years and then transferred to Huntington College, Huntington, Indiana where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies and English in 1955. He went on to attend the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1963. Paul served for forty years as a minister in the Pennsylvania Conference, Church of United Brethren in Christ and also served on numerous committees and the conference board. During his ministry he served for two years as the Assistant Pastor at King Street United Brethren Church; then four years as Pastor at Otterbein United Brethren Church in Greencastle; and in 1961 was appointed Pastor of King Street United Brethren Church where he continued his ministry until retiring in 1991. Paul served for nine months as the interim chaplain for the Franklin County Prison and for a week in 1986 was chaplain for the Pennsylvania State Senate where he opened each session with prayer. Following his retirement from the church he employed full-time for more than 10 years and part-time for a number of years with the former Park-Geisel Funeral Home and the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, Inc.

Paul served as Superintendent of the Pennsylvania United Brethren Conference for 24 years; served for many years on the General Board of Administration, Church of the United Brethren in Christ; served on the Board of Trustees of Huntington College for 25 years and was presently a member of the Board of Trustees, Emeritus. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Huntington College in 1980. Paul served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals for many years. He served as a former member and past President of the Rhodes Grove Camp Association Board of Directors; was a former member and past President of the Board of Directors of Piney Mountain Home; was a former member and past President of the Board of Directors of the Chambersburg Memorial YMCA; served as a member of the Board of Directors of the South Central PA Children's Bible Mission; and was a former member and past President of the Chambersburg Evening Kiwanis Club. He was a member and past President of the Chambersburg Downtown Kiwanis Club; a member and past President of the Salvation Army Advisory Board; and a former member of the Board of Directors of Shook Home. Paul greatly enjoyed serving for four years as Chaplain of the Frederick Keys baseball team. He was awarded the Centennial Medallion from Huntington College in 1996 and the Greene Township Citizen of the Year Award from the Greene Township Lions Club in 2005. Paul's hobbies included reading; history; performing community service; sports, and riding 4-wheelers. He was a fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Penn State football.

Paul's wife, June Mull Baker, whom he married July 10, 1953, preceded him in death on April 15, 2019.

He is survived by his son, Jeffrey P. Baker of Pittsburgh, PA; his brother, G. Melvin Baker of Shippensburg, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Glenn and Robert; and a sister, Winona E. Strike.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, March 13, 2021 at King Street United Brethren Church, 162 East King Street, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Jody Bowser and Rev. Kevin Witter will officiate. The funeral will be livestreamed at kingstreetchurch.com/funeral. A committal service officiated by Rev. Don Baker and Rev. Ron Cook will follow at Norland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 PM Friday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 169 Lincoln Way West, or to the Chambersburg Memorial YMCA, 570 East McKinley Street, both in Chambersburg, PA 17201.

Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA.

Condolences may be offered on his Book of Memories page at geiselfuneralhome.com.