Patricia Ellen Baker

Patricia Ellen Baker, 79, of Athens, Indiana, passed away on March 1, 2026, at her residence.

Born on December 24, 1946, in Rochester, Indiana, to Robert E. and Kathleen A. (Grogg) Nicodemus, Patty graduated from Akron High School in 1964 and completed her training at Wright’s Beauty Salon in Logansport. On November 23, 2002, she married Marvin Daniel Baker in Rochester, Indiana. She was a longtime member of the VFW, Elks, Moose, and Eagles lodges of Rochester. Patty worked for many years as a hairdresser in Wabash, operating her own salon, Beauty Go Round, from 1976 to 1981, before continuing her work in Akron. She later joined Lau Industries in Rochester, where she retired after a decade of service.

She found her greatest joy in time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Patty loved tending to her flowers and garden, sharing meals with family, and relaxing around the campfire. She enjoyed garage sales, playing bingo, watching the Colts and Notre Dame sports, and was known for her wonderful cooking, especially her dumplings and pies. Saturday mornings were often spent with her breakfast social club, a tradition she cherished. Patty had a warm, lively sense of humor and a gift for making others laugh.

She is survived by her husband, Dan Baker of Athens; sons Paul (Debbie) Prater of Gilead and Greg Prater (Nancy Rans) of Akron; grandchildren Caleb, Katie, Kinzie, and Layne; six great-grandchildren; brothers Donald and Jeff Nicodemus; and stepchildren April (Serafin Santiago), Brenda Baker, and Robin Fresh. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister-in-law Linda Nicodemus, and former husband Orville Prater.