Ronald "Bakes" Lynn Baker

Ronald Lynn Baker (Ron, Bakes to his friends, or Pops to his grandkids) of Mechanicsburg passed away on December 31st, 2025, surrounded by friends. His rye smile, hearty chuckle, jokes, and light-hearted stories will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Ron was born on May 30, 1952, and grew up in Mechanicsburg. His childhood was spent eating ice cream from Rakestraw’s on his way to school and enjoying all types of sports, particularly those that he played at Kosher Park. Ron particularly excelled at baseball and wrestling. After graduating from Mechanicsburg High School in 1970, Ron attended West Chester University on a baseball scholarship. His contributions as third baseman helped the team during several successful seasons before he graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education. 

Ron loved few things more than baseball and continued to play whenever he could after graduating from college. He played for Mechanicsburg’s Twilight League, then the Mechanicsburg Sandlot League team, the Cardinals, and later coached the team. He believed in supporting players’ lifelong enjoyment of the sport and was a natural-born baseball coach. He supported his kids’ love of sports by coaching their t-ball, youth baseball, and softball teams. He also coached local high school baseball teams and Mechanicsburg’s Twilight League Team. 

He was also one of the most dedicated baseball fans most of us will ever know. He followed the Pittsburgh Pirates with a fervor that only other super-fans understand, and he enjoyed many visits to Camden Yards to watch the Baltimore Orioles (mostly because Baltimore was closer than Pittsburgh and he preferred Camden Yards to the Pirates’ Three Rivers Stadium).  Ron was at his happiest when he was watching a game in the stands with his family or friends. In 2015, Ron was inducted into the Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.

Ron loved the outdoors and often visited state and national parks. In his lifetime, he nearly met his goal of visiting all 50 states. He enjoyed hikes in new and different terrain, but particularly loved Pine Grove State Park, hiking Pole Steeple, and taking a dip in Fuller Lake. He was most at home in the outdoors, especially when the weather was about 70 degrees and sunny.  

In his 40s, Ron took up kayaking when his son Todd discovered the sport. He spent years going on kayaking adventures with Todd to rivers around PA and the Northeast. He joined the Canoe and Kayak Club of Greater Harrisburg and the American Canoe Association, becoming an active member, teaching kayaking, and leading paddling excursions. In support of his son’s kayaking, he even made the trip to Sydney, Australia, to see Todd compete in the World Freestyle Kayak Championships as a junior member of Team USA. On that trip, Ron enjoyed some bucket-list adventures, including hiking a glacier in New Zealand and hugging a koala bear in Australia. 

In his later years, Ron enjoyed golfing with his friends on courses around Central PA, or at least “taking his clubs for a walk”. He also enjoyed gardening and started his own seeds each year. He loved watering and caring for his plants and made the most of his harvest by freezing pestos, tomato sauces, and drying veggies that he would add to soups and meals throughout the year. Ron was also a baker and loved to make apple crumb pie and broccoli quiche for family meals and gatherings. 

Professionally, Ron had a long, varied career. He worked for IBM, managed a warehouse for Whirlpool, substitute taught phys ed, and spent the last part of his career as a help desk support specialist for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, where he retired in 2019. 

Ron was also a lifelong blood donor and was proud to have donated 9 gallons of blood throughout his lifetime.

Ron is survived by his wife of 47 years, Brenda Webber of Mechanicsburg, his daughter, Carrie Stahler of Lyndon, Vermont; his son, Todd Baker of Friendsville, Maryland; his beloved grandchildren, Moxie and Victor; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother, William M. Baker, II, of Mechanicsburg, and his parents, William M. and Arlene Baker of Mechanicsburg.  

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held at the Mechanicsburg Men’s Club, 333 Heinz St, Mechanicsburg, PA, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 10:30 am. More details will be forthcoming. The family invites all who knew Ron to attend and share their favorite memories and to post them here. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Castaway Critters animal rescue (castawaycritters.org), where Ron adopted his favorite dog, Sheena.