Dr. Robert Love Baker
April 29, 1926 ~ October 13, 2019
Born in:
Verona, PA
Resided in:
Fletcher, NC
Dr. Robert Love Baker died at the age of 93 after a stroke sustained in July 2019. He was predeceased by his father John Paul Baker, Sr, mother Mabel Love Baker, brothers John Paul Baker Jr. and James Love Baker, wife of 65 years, Barbara Jane Kessler Baker and daughter Gwendolyn Ann Baker Thomas.
He is survived by his son Robert Love Baker II, D.O. (Connie), daughter Patricia Diane Baker Dement (Joseph), son-in-law James Henry Thomas, Jr., grandchildren Robert Love Baker III (Kathleen), Andrew Hoffman Baker (Allison), James Henry Thomas III (Samantha), David Kessler Thomas, Barbara Diane Thomas, Jessica Leigh Dement Connolly (Paul), Timothy Miller Dement (Emily), Bennett Baker Dement (Elizabeth), great grandchildren Penelope Jeanne Baker, Elizabeth Grace Baker, Liam Robert Baker and sister-in-law Vicki Kessler Cole along with numerous nieces and nephews.
He graduated from Penn Hills High School in 1943. He received his BS degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1946 and his MD degree from Northwestern University and the University of Pittsburgh in 1948. He completed his Internship from St. Francis Medical Center in 1948-49. His neurological surgery residency was one of the first at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital where he trained from 1949-52 and the University of Pittsburgh 1954-55. He was a Captain in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1952-54 practicing neurological surgery at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
He was Board Certified in Neurological Surgery in 1958 and practiced at over twenty hospitals in western Pennsylvania serving patients from 1955 – 2003.
He was a member of the Allegheny County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
He was a member of Hebron Church in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, previous board member of Y.O.U. and a charter board member of Christian Church Camps of Pittsburgh, Inc. (Summer’s Best Two Weeks).
He was a long time social member of the Oakmont Country Club.
He loved gardening, photography, travel, and was dedicated to his wife Barbara and family.
He loved his Lord Jesus Christ, whom is risen from the dead, and now Bob has joined his wife Barbara and family in eternity thanks to his salvation through Jesus Christ and Christ alone. Only by the grace of the one true God.
A memorial service will be held December 7, 2019 at 2 pm at Hebron Church 10460 Frankstown Road, Pgh., PA 15235.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to his favorite charities. Brother’s Brother Foundation, 1200 Galveston Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233 Hebron Church 10460 Frankstown Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235
Christian Church Camps of Pittsburgh, Inc., 111 Lake Gloria Road, Boswell, PA, 15531
To place a condolence online, please visit www.grocefuneralhome.com.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, Arden, NC is assisting the family.
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Grace and peace to each of you.
What a wonderful man. I loved my small amounts of time with him especially discussing surgerical instruments and his surgeries at a sorting day at Global Links. I am so happy for him and his wonderful journey to met Jesus Christ. I will be praying for his family as they say goodbye for a little while and look forward to meeting again.
To the entire Baker Family!
We loved your Dad and Mom so much and have many wonderful memories over the years with them.
Bob’s storytelling never got old as he spoke lovingly of all the places he and Barb had visited and listening
to him talk about his family was endearing. He loved you all so very much! Bob loved and welcomed everyone he met into his heart and home… He was a special gift to all of us.. and we are so grateful for his life and testimony to Jesus Christ! He is at rest now with his Lord but we will continue praying for all of you as your hearts heal. Bob will be missed by so many!
much love and many prayers for all of you!
To the Baker´s Family
Back in the year of 1969-70 as a teenager, I had the opportunity in living as foreign student from Brazil at Robert Love Baker´s home for one whole year. Since that time, I noticed his devotion and a great love for his wonderful wife Barbara and his sons Robert, Wendy and Patty. That was really a marvelous and very friendly family. I can tell you that today after 50 years I still remember them as it was just like yesterday. I had the opportunity of visiting them a couple times and we always kept an excellent friendship. I liked to call him “Doc” and he was a very charismatic person, bright, fast thinking and with a large culture. I am a medical doctor here in Brazil, Dermatologist. The last time I stayed with them I went with Doc to visit some patients he had done surgery. I observed the way he cared with his patients, very human and very dedicated. He also was a great neurosurgeon.
Last but not the least I must confess that in the year´s 1997, my daughter Isabella also stayed with the other generations on Baker´s Family. She as a foreign student lived with Bob Baker and Conny for one year. So, we can notice that Doc was really a great man and with a large vison and spirit. Here I pray for him and his Family too. May God take care of him together with Barbara and Wendy
With Love
Marcio Rutowitsch MD, PhD from Brazil
Bob was the Dean of Neurosurgery in Western Pa. A lovely man devoted to his family. I saw him last shortly before the move to N.C. Bob II I have a note to send you so please email me your address.
From the age of 14 and on I heard numerous praises about an amazing, Christian doctor named Robert Love Baker because he saved my mother’s life by removing a brain tumor. I never thought I would ever meet him, yet I ended up being a guest in his home several times and talking with him every Sunday in church for several years before I found out he was the doctor I had heard about so often! Both he and Barb were two of the most wonderful, gracious, compassionate people anywhere! So very many people were blessed just by knowing him. May the knowledge that he is with our Lord and Savior comfort all who will miss him.