Steve Baker Obituary

At dawn on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Steven M. Baker, 79, of Troy, slipped away peacefully. Born in Dayton on July 15, 1946, he was the cherished son of C. Oscar and Josephine (Weinert) Baker. On February 8, 1969, he married Martha A. Koenig, who survives him and remains the heart of the life they built together.

Steve’s legacy continues through his children — Mark A. Baker of Colorado and Stephanie M. Waller (Michael) of Pleasant Hill — and through his five grandchildren: Oscar R. and Oliver J. Baker, and Max M. Silk, Josephine B. Silk, and Matthew Waller. He is also remembered by his brother Thom (Marsha) Baker; sisters Leesa Baker and Molly (Scott) Cameron; his brother‑in‑law John Koenig; sisters‑in‑law Sara (Joseph) Kreitzer, Jean Evans, and Judy Heitkamp; and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother Larry Baker, four sisters‑in‑law, and three brothers‑in‑law, all of whom shaped the family story that surrounded him.

A 1964 graduate of Brunnerdale Seminary High School, Steve later received an honorary degree from Edison State Community College. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era, spending four years aboard the USS Sampson and USS Henry B. Wilson before receiving an honorable discharge in 1970.

For more than fifty years, Steve devoted himself to broadcasting. He began at WPTW AM/FM, then moved into videography and digital journalism, often working alone as he reported across the Northern Miami Valley for WDTN and WHIO‑TV. He eventually became WHIO’s Northern Bureau Chief, maintaining a Troy bureau until his retirement in 2017 — though retirement did little to slow him, as he continued contributing through his own LLC.

His work earned him numerous distinctions, including induction into the Dayton Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Beyond journalism, Steve gave generously to his community: he served on educational and nonprofit boards, joined the first Leadership Troy class, and helped establish the LT Meet the Candidate Forum. His honors include the National Distinguished Leadership Award and the Troy Chamber Distinguished Citizen Award. He delighted in his grandchildren’s accomplishments and, in later years, found quiet purpose in crafting rosaries for mission outreach.

A devoted member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Steve will be honored with a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., followed by burial at Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will take place Monday, January 5, 2026, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Baird Funeral Home.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Miami County Dental Clinic or St. Patrick Catholic Church. Messages of sympathy may be shared on the funeral home’s website.