Updated with published obituary: https://obituaries.wildflowerfuneralconcepts.com/obituaries/wild-flower/gilbert-arthur-baker-obituary
Plz see below .....
~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Gilbert “Gil” Arthur
Baker
August 21, 1939 ~ May 12, 2025
Please look for more information to follow as this
is early days…..we have just learned of the passing of retired Northwest
Airlines pilot Captain Gilbert “Gil” Baker, age 85. Gil joined Northwest Airlines
04-07-1969. He is survived by his wife
Virginia “Ginny”, and by many dear friends, family members and work colleagues.
~ Carol for the PCN
PCN memorial site
< wlday@comcast.net
>: May 13 08:15AM
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
With great personal loss I regret to inform you
that Gil Baker passed away
Monday night May 12th. Gil was special to me. We
flew many flights together, drove to
our month pilot luncheons together and even played
in a community orchestra
together. Gil was by formal education an engineer.
He served in the Navy as
a pilot flying the COD off aircraft carriers. In
retirement Gil and Ginny
resided on Lake Whatcom on the east side of
Bellingham.
It is too early for any other details.
We have lost a longtime faithful colleague and
friend.
Bill Day
===================
https://obituaries.wildflowerfuneralconcepts.com/obituaries/wild-flower/gilbert-arthur-baker-obituary
Obituary For Gilbert Arthur Baker
Gilbert (Gil) Arthur Baker flew west on May 12, 2025, at the age of 85. Many years of Parkinson’s and the new addition of dementia finally grounded him. He died, as he wished, peacefully in his Bellingham home with his wife of 27 years, Virginia (Ginny) and two daughters, Ruth and Paula, at his side.
He was born August 21, 1939, in Klamath Falls, OR to Pauline and Cyrus Baker and was the oldest of four siblings. He graduated from Oregon State University with a BS in General Science then enlisted in the Navy where he became a pilot. After serving two tours in Vietnam flying off aircraft carriers he transitioned to commercial pilot for Northwest Orient in 1969. During his 30 years with them he flew B-727, DC-10, B-757 and B-747, retiring as B-747-200 captain. A point of pride. He continued to also fly with the Naval Reserve in transport squadrons and served his full 20 years as Lt. Commander. He was proud to say he never bent any metal.
He is pre-deceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Ginny, three siblings Carol (Bill) Turnidge, Steven (Sheryl) Baker, and Julia (Marty) Baker, daughters Ruth Baker and Paula (Stu) Correll, step-children Krista (Chris) Crowther and Eric (Phimpha) Drommer, along with four grandsons; Bill and Ben Correll and Levi and Oliver Crowther. Family was the most important thing in the world to him and he loved us all dearly. In his retirement he was able to enjoy his love of woodworking, gardening, playing chess with friends, and traveling.
There will be a Celebration of Life on August 2, 2025 at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship at 2pm with reception to follow. If you’d like, wear summer colors or Hawaiian shirts. Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
I knew Gil from his first days at NWA. Gil paled around with George Williams and I for years. Without saying he flew many trips with me in all seats and was a stand up friend and fellow Pilot. We also shared a commuting apartment for years while commuting to MSP.. May God lift you to eternal life Gil my friend.
ReplyDeleteGil was a fun person to share time with. Not until later in life did I know he too, was from Klamath Falls, OR. We had a few stories to share. He will be missed.
ReplyDeleteDave Schneebeck
I was very lucky to meet and know Gil on the aircraft carrier in Viet Nam. We shared a ready room together even though we flew different airplanes. Just two peas in the pod doing our time. In retirement, I wished we had lived a little closer just to share good times. Save me a seat in that new ready room Gil.
ReplyDeleteTom Klein