E. H. Baker

EH died on December 26, 2021, in Seattle from complications of a stroke. He leaves behind his beloved wife Izora Hurd Baker, children Ross Baker (Karen) and Elizabeth Baker Schoch (Eric) and stepchildren Bill, Jr. (Lori), James (Jacqui) and Lamar (Leslie) Hurd, along with step-grandchildren and great grandchildren, all who loved him dearly.

EH was born in Lewisburg, TN, the youngest of six children. After graduation from Lewisburg High School, he worked for three years to save money for college. He graduated from Tennessee State University (TSU) in Nashville, with a BS in Animal Husbandry in 1953. While at TSU, he met his first wife, Dorothy Cunningham (TSU ’53) and joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

After college, he was drafted into the US Army. He completed basic training at Fort Lewis, WA where he gained an appreciation for the area’s natural beauty and markedly better racial relations than in the South.

EH and Dorothy married in 1955 and settled in Seattle where Ross and Beth were born. EH owned and operated a janitorial maintenance company for decades. He also worked at and retired (after 32 years) from the US Postal Service. During retirement, he taught driving classes for AARP.

Dorothy died in 2003. EH and Izora Hurd married in 2006 and lived happily together until the time of his death. He greatly loved the Hurd family and enjoyed doting on his grand and great grandchildren.

EH was a devoted Christian with the Church of Christ. He served as an Elder for the Madison Park Church of Christ and the Southside Church of Christ and attended the Holgate Street Church of Christ in his last years. He also wrote a book about the Church of Christ in Seattle.

EH loved local sports (he was a UW Husky football season ticketholder for decades), walked several miles a day and bowled (two leagues a season) into his early 90’s. He was an excellent storyteller.

EH Baker leaves behind a wide and deep community of church members, friends, neighbors, bowling teammates, former co-workers and employees, and family members, who loved, admired, and cared deeply for him. His departure leaves a great loss.

The Baker, Schoch and Hurd families wish to thank the team at Virginia Mason who cared for EH for many decades and at the end of his life journey; the community at Brookdale West Seattle; caretaker Samantha Clay; his neighbors, and his lifelong friends.

In EH’s memory and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Tennessee State Univ. National Alumni Assn for scholarships (Box 1261; 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209); Southside Church of Christ Scholarship Fund (via church website) or The Seattle Public Library Foundation.

Burial occurred at Tahoma Natoinal Cemetery, Kent, WA on January 13. Church and community celebrations are planned for the spring. See Washelli.com for details or to leave a memory.