Joseph Gerald John Baker Sr. of Holland died Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne. He was 93.

Joe was the beloved husband of 62 years to Agnes Rafferty Baker.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late William H.F. and Marie Finnegan Baker and the brother of the late William, Marie, and Ann Latour.

Joe was born in Manayunk, grew up in Roxborough and graduated from St. John’s High School where he played basketball. He and his brother Bill enlisted in the Army in 1942 and Joe served three years in the South Pacific as part of a radar platoon. Upon his discharge in 1945, he joined the Veterans Administration in Philadelphia and progressed to the position of an Adjudication Officer helping many area veterans realize the full benefits of the GI Bill. He attended LaSalle College at night and became the first member of his family to attain a college degree in 1954. Joe and his family spent many happy years in the St. Athanasius and Nativity of Our Lord parishes. A sports enthusiast, Joe founded and coached in the basketball program of Ogontz Boys Club in West Oak Lane, where he also coached baseball teams, and upon moving to Warminster, was one of the founders of the Warminster Basketball Association. Upon his retirement in 1983, he spent much of his time watching his grandchildren participate in various sporting, musical, and academic activities and researching the family’s genealogy.

In addition to his beloved wife Agnes, Joseph is survived by his 6 loving children; Joseph J. Baker Jr. and his wife Catherine of North Wales, Mary M. Baker of Newtown, Kathleen R. Klarich and her husband Timothy of Philadelphia, Thomas B. Baker and his wife Paula of Jamison, John W. Baker of Holly Springs, NC, and Patricia B. Tento and her husband Anthony of Harleysville. He is also survived by his sister Dolores Arent, and was the devoted Pop Pop to 14 grandchildren Joe, Stephen, Mary Kate, Kevin (Kathryn), Maureen, Timmy (Annie), Brian, Colin, Brigid, Tommy, Chris, Danny, Caitlin, Brenna, and his great granddaughter Molly;

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing from 10:00am to 11:15am and to his Funeral Mass at 11:30am on Saturday, April 12th in St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Rd., Holland, PA 18966.

Interment will follow in St. John Neumann Cemetery in Chalfont.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, 475 E. Chelten Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19144.