Walter “Rhea” Baker 59, of Columbia, KY passed away suddenly at 9:50 p.m. on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at his home. Rhea was born on Sunday, January 24, 1960 to his late parents, Walter “Garnett” Baker and Margaret Cundiff Baker, and grew up in the Portland community.
He was a former employee of OshKosh B’Gosh and an employee for 20 + years in the pipeline construction field for Waste Energy Technology, better known as WET, and Anchor Liquor. Rhea had a love for life and lived it to the fullest. He was voted “Least Changed” during all of his high school class reunions. He traveled and went site-seeing all over the United States and also out of the country to Netherlands, Bahamas, Canada and Mexico. In his earlier years, Rhea was an outfielder on the softball field, loved to shoot 8-ball pool, play both rook and poker, and play golf. Most recently, you would find him riding up and down the Kentucky roads on his beloved purple Harley Davidson motorcycle, or on Green River Lake in his boat fishing for hours, both of which were always done with his best friend, Kevin Shepherd, by his side. Rhea was also a member of the Wannabeez Bowling Team every Tuesday night at Barney’s Fun Center and bowled his best game ever during his final bowling tournament this last weekend. You would also find Rhea in front of the television when his favorite team, UK Wildcats, were playing basketball. Rhea was an avid lifetime blood and plasma donor for the Kentucky Blood Center and a multiple organ donor at the time of his death.
Rhea was preceded in death by his older brother, Stephen Baker in 1970, his mother, Margaret Cundiff Baker in 2000, and his father, Walter “Garnett” Baker in 2015. He was also preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Demon and Genevieve Baker, and maternal grandparents, Henry Herschel and Anna Cundiff.
SURVIVORS:
2 Sisters: Ann and Cotton Smith, Nancy and Barney Taylor all of Portland
1 Brother: Mark and Carla Baker of Columbia
Nieces & Nephews: Nealia & Walter Baker, Hailey (Chandler Staten), Briley Taylor and Carrie Ann Smith
Long-time companion - Sandy Crawhorn & her daughter, Destiny Greer, both of Knifley
Best Friend: Kevin Shepherd and wife Kim, of Columbia, KY
Funeral Service: Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Grissom-Martin Funeral Home with his Brother-in-law, Rev. Barney Taylor, officiating
Burial: Haven Hill Cemetery with his parents and brother
Visitation: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 after 4:00 p.m.
Pallbearers: Mark Baker, Barney Taylor, Cotton Smith, Walter Baker, Briley Taylor, and Kevin Shepherd
Grissom-Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
