MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Born in Omaha, Neb., in 1904 Gil Baker turned 37-years-old on the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. Soon after he was drafted into the Army to serve, despite his older age at the time.
Then 63 years later, on Tuesday — Baker turned 100. His family and friends gathered Dec. 5 to celebrate Baker’s life.
Baker, who lives at the Rimas Adult Family Home in Mountlake Terrace, said he wasn’t sure why or how he made it this far, but he suspects it’s in his genes.
His advice to those wanting to make it to the century mark: “Just get out of the way.”
Baker’s mom died at 95, his Dad at 88 and he had an uncle who lived to be 103.
“He’s inherited his longevity,” said Baker’s son Ted Baker, who added, his health is great considering his age as well.
Also, while Baker’s age is impressive, he isn’t the senior resident at the Mountlake Terrace Rimas house. Housemate Basilio Callejo just turned 103.
Originally from Helena, Mont., Baker moved to the Seattle area in 1930. One of his fond memories in Montana is actually knowing the real people who were portrayed in the film “A River Runs Through it,” he said.
Baker has had a fulfilling life, he said, and has many highlights.
From driving a bus in Yellowstone Park for three summers to being the first to survey some land in Montana.
He also still gets a laugh about a mission he had to go on during his “hell week” experience for the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Montana Missoula campus. Baker eventually graduated with a college degree from the University of Washington.
But what sticks out the most for Baker, he said, is his late-in-life marriage to his wife Alice, who died five years ago from complications of Alzheimer’s.
“That was one of the best things I ever did,” Baker said about marrying Alice.
They met years prior and married after he got out of the Army. The two had three sons, Ted Baker and two other boys from Alice’s previous marriage. Baker and Alice also have three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Gil Baker was retired from heading the accounting department for what was Hainsworth Construction Company for 27 years out of Seattle. After that he and Alice did a lot of square dancing and traveling — memories he recalls often and deeply cherishes, he said.
Up until Alice died, Gil Baker took care of Alice during the long years of suffering with Alzheimer’s and lived and managed on his own even into his late 90s.
Usually, folks in this age range have a story or two about the Depression. But Baker said it really didn’t affect him.
“I was single, had a good job, belonged to the Washington Athletic Club and was dating whoever I wanted.”
Today, Baker loves to watch sports — particularly the Mariners, has a sweet (false) tooth for chocolate and enjoys visits from his family members who live nearby.
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