Charles B. Baker (he won’t tell you what the B stood for), known to all as Skip, unless you were an effing telemarketer, passed away on September 21, 2021. Scott says he waited for his birthday to pass “cuz Dad loves me best”, which we all say. Proud husband, dad, papa/grampa, veteran, and lover of Rainier beer passed away at home with Bebe there. Just how he wanted it.
Born in Port Townsend 27 Jan 1934, Skip was big brother to Bette, Shari and Bob. At seven he delivered milk. At 18 he got bit by a king rattler at WSU, leaving a big scar on his belly, or maybe it was a burst appendix. Later he went off to Panama to be an MP and play baseball for the army. And in 1958 he went to Seattle U, where he met his Irish washer woman, Bebe O’Brien.
Lots of good friends and fun times ensued over the decades. Cowboy dancing in the living room, ski trips, rodeo, jumping out from under beds yelling “KATO!”. Willie on the 8-track, daily soaks in the hot tub, Lake Washington day cruises & summer vacations in the San Juans on the SixPak. Lots of good times.
4 kids and 8 grandkids later, Skip and Bebe spent their retirement going to baseball games, football games, basketball games, soccer matches, cheerleader competitions, choral concerts, graduations, and anything else that involved loving on the grandkids. He was a well-known entity in the Sammamish Plateau sports world and will surely be missed at the games.
Skip/Dad/Grampa/Papa will be missed by Bebe, Scott, Tracy, Jill, Jody, Fritzy, Lance, Nigel, Axel, Lizzie, Jack, Will, Katie, True, Steele & Brix. And a whole lot of other people.
There will be a military service on Thursday Oct 14, 12:15 at Tahoma National Cemetery (18600 SE 240th St, Kent WA 98042), immediately followed by a reception at Scott & Tracy’s house in Sammamish (contact any of us for the address). Pumpkin pie, lemon drops and Rainier beer will be served, naturally, and Waylon & Willie will be playing. Dad was a casual man — suit and tie NOT required. A sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off at the elbows would be more appropriate.
Two things, Dad. We got cold beer for you, and YES we’ve checked the oil. “Shiiii…”
The post Charles “Skip” Baker first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.