May 1, 2018

Baron S. “Poe” Poser, 70, of Cokeburg, died unexpectedly Monday, April 30, 2018, in his workshop doing what he loved.

He was born April 29, 1948, in Cokeburg, a son of the late Frank Poser Jr. and Bonnie D. Stutz Poser.

Baron started out working at Dovshek’s Esso station in Cokeburg and later worked for Cellco Corp. in Donora, where Ken Griffey Sr. worked under him for a while. He later became part owner of Starfleet Enterprises, specializing in nuclear welding.

His passion, however, was racing. He started his motorcycle racing career for the Pappy Kearns Racing Team, where he quickly moved through the ranks and became an AMA Professional Flat Track racer for BSA Motorcycle Corp. He was top ranked and renowned with too many victories and accolades to list before being paralyzed in a racing accident in 1973. He went on to open his own shop, working on numerous flight, automotive, marine and race vehicle projects. He became an expert in welding, mechanics, painting and fabrication. He built his own gyrocopter and restored a 1946 Aeronca Champ fixed-wing, propeller-driven aircraft. He was an avid pilot and became only the second paraplegic in the world to pilot a “taildragger aircraft.” He was a Corvette enthusiast, owning several through the years, but his love for all things mechanical was slightly trumped by his love for his pet pot-bellied pigs he rescued.

Among his many hobbies and interests, he still found time to teach himself how to play the guitar, bass guitar, banjo, concertina, saxophone, trumpet and violin.

There wasn’t anything Baron couldn’t do with his hands. He accomplished more than most men, and without the use of his legs. A brilliant man with a magnetic personality, if he met a stranger once, then they had just met a friend for life.

He is survived by two sisters, Pamela Fox of Winterhaven, Fla., and Cecelia “Cil” Pscolka (Ray) of Bentleyville; two nieces, Crystal Karmen and Megan Barnes; and two nephews, Aaron and Ryan Pscolka. Also, he leaves behind two very special “adopted” children, Joe Crawford and Alecia “Little E” Fincham.

Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Greenlee Funeral Home, 619 Main Street, Bentleyville, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 4. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Washington Area Humane Society, PO Box 66, Eighty Four, PA 15330.

A guest book and personal condolences may be accessed at www.GreenleeFuneralHome.com.