Kenneth Harlen Baker

Services for Mr. Kenneth Harlen Baker, 90 of Gilmer will be held at 2:00 P.M.., Monday, April 15, 2013, at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gilmer with Bro. Marion Palmer officiating. Burial will follow at Enon Cemetery in Upshur County. Mr. Baker passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2013 in Longview. Kenneth Harlen Baker was born February 27, 1923, in Fort Worth, Texas. His parents are Oliver Marshall Baker and Emma D. Rater Baker. Kenneth attended Fort Worth schools, graduating in 1941 from Polytechnic High School and entering Texas Christian University that fall with a four year football scholarship. In 1942, he gave up his scholarship to volunteer for the U. S. Navy. He served as a motor machinist mate 1st class aboard the submarine tender sperry for 2 " years. Kenneth was employed many years with General Motors Cadillac division as a service representative for the Texas and parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. At retirement he was vice president of the Cadillac dealership in New Orleans. Kenneth loved hunting, fishing and shrimping. He trained young bird dogs to find and point quail and he loved all the outdoors. Kenneth is survived by his wife of 68 years, Janet Winn Baker; sons, Michael M. Baker and Kenneth Charles Baker; grandchildren, Samuel Kenneth Baker, Laura Marie Shoemaker, Lars Abela, Theris Abela, Casandra Janet Abela, Seth Baker and Lee Michael Perralt, Sarah Dimoski and Brandi Dimoski; two great grandchildren, Justin Shoemaker and Brandon Shoemaker; he is also survived by sister Hazel LaRue of Denton, Texas. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. on Monday at the funeral home.