Harold Baker Passes Away at 89
Harold Charles Baker died on May 24, 2018 at his home in Boardman at the age of 89.
He was born on Aug. 18, 1928 in Longview, Wash. to Adeline (Gent) and William Baker.
In 1930 the family, which included his older brother Willard and sister LaVerne, moved to Boardman. There he met the love of his life, Mildred Miller. They started dating when Mildred was a freshman and he was a junior in high school. He graduated from Boardman High School in 1946. In May 1948 he joined the U.S. Air Force, the first year of its existence. They married on Dec. 21, 1952 after dating for eight years.
Not completely sure he wanted children, Mildred convinced him otherwise. They had Ron in 1954 and Randy in 1955. He was convinced, and the family grew to include Karen in 1959 and Kris in 1962. It is hard to imagine there was anything he was prouder of, until the grandkids came along, and then the great grandkids.
As a businessman in a small town, he wore many hats. With the steady paychecks of Mildred’s teaching and his mail route, the family had an income base to try other businesses. He operated a crane that loaded bombs on river barges, and he developed the first third of the Bombing Range Road with his father-in-law’s dozer. He was a rural mail carrier for 35 years, once having the shortest mail route in the state of Oregon. He built the Frosty Shake Drive-In and trailer court in the old town of Boardman. When the town was relocated, he built the Nomad Restaurant. He was one of the key businessmen that planned the relocation of Boardman in 1967. He also built a trailer court in Pomeroy, Wash. All during this time, he was a farmer at heart. He raised alfalfa. Eventually he went into the custom hay business in Oregon and Washington. He loved to build things. Over the years he built four houses for his family out of
open sagebrush property. Family was always included in the businesses, creating a strong work ethic in his children.
He is survived by his friend of 80-plus years and wife for 65 of them, Mildred; children, Ron (Glaya) Baker, Randy (Kathy) Baker, Karen Purcell and Kris (R.B.) Dorran; grandchildren, Brandi (Manolo) Zavala, Jared (Norma Ayala) Purcell, Kevin (Bridgette) Baker, Keith Baker, Kenna Purcell, and Charlie (Mariah) Baker; and 11 great grandchildren (with another this fall).
There will be a graveside service with military honors at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the Riverview Cemetery in Boardman, with a luncheon and celebration of life at noon at the Boardman Senior Center.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Boardman Senior Center.
Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
