WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Patricia Lee (King) Baum, age 75, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday, April 6, 2012, at her home after a courageous battle with cancer.
Patty was born Sept. 22, 1936, in Churchville, NY (Near Rochester), the only child of the late Lauren Journal and Ernestine (Aikens) King. She had been a Sturgis resident since 1972 coming from Erie, Pa., (Via a four-year residency in Marian, Ind.).
In January 1953, at the age of 16, she was named the first woman as an Honorary Life Member of the Erie County, Pa., Volunteer Fireman’s Association because of her ministry of reading passages from the Bible and praying with a dying truck driver, fatally burned in a flaming tractor-trailer crash on the road in front of her home.
She graduated from Harbor Creek High School in 1954, sixth in her class, as a member of the National Honor Society and Faculty Choice to a commencement speaker. In 1958 she graduated from Southeastern Bible College with a bachelor of religious education in Birmingham, Ala., with honors, having traveled with her college choir and singing in Girls Trio for the college. She also served as editor of the College Yearbook her senior year.
On Nov. 23, 1963, she was united in marriage to Rev. Darrell A. Baum in Wesleyville, Pa.
She began her working years by serving as church secretary and pastor’s aide at the Wesley Methodist Church in Wesleyville, Pa. In 1968 she and her husband moved to Marian, Ind., where she worked in the education department of Taylor University while Darrell attended there and also served as his secretary through his college seminary years and for 17 years while he served in the pastorate in five churches. After moving to Sturgis she worked as a secretary in the food service department at Sturgis High School from 1987 -1990.
Her life has always been filled with music as she has sung in each church choir where she was attending for over 45 years and sung solos when she was called upon. Her aim was always to praise and glorify her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to sing hymns that led up to and enhance the Ministers sermon for the service.
Her hobbies included reading, needlepoint on canvas, church work, choirs, V.B.S. and fellowship committees.
Surviving are her husband, Darrell; 2 step-children, Ronald (Debbie) Baum of Jamestown, NY and Glenna (Richard) Kronick of Patton, Pa.; grandchildren, Ronald Baum of Erie, Pa., Richard Kronick of Cherry Tree, Pa., Jeannie Kronick of Culver, Pa., David Kronick of Baltimore, MD, and Jennifer Kronick of Patton, Pa.; great-grandchildren, Cody Bradley, Carrisa and Cassie Smiley, and Benjamin Kronick; nieces and nephews, Betty Lou Adams, Darrell Lee Askew, Linda Best, John Leamer, Kathy Taft, Bob Leamer, Jean Irwin, and Donna Mallet; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, cousins, and several beloved sisters in the Lord including, Peggy Yunker, Patricia Bellaire, Marry Giggy, Lois Holtz, and Karen Mills.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, at the Sturgis Evangelical Church, 29201 E. Fawn River Rd., Sturgis, MI 4909.
Services celebrating the life of Patricia Baum will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, at the Sturgis Evangelical Church with The Rev. Rodger Moyer, officiating.
Graveside Services and Interment will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, at the East Ridge Cemetery in Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania.
Memorial donations may be directed to the World Missionary Press or the Sturgis Evangelical Church envelopes are available at the church or the Hackman Family Funeral Home – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091 who has been entrusted with the arrangements.
