Glenn Thomas Baker

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.’ II Cor. 5:8 Glenn Thomas Baker was born on January 6, 1910, in a small cabin in Donelson, TN. His father died when he was six years old, and he learned at an early age to take responsibility at home. Although he had two brothers, he was the one most depended on by his mother. In order to support her young family, Glenn’s mother would leave them for days at a time to help women in the Nashville area during their ‘confinement.’ Following childbirth, in those days, women spent ten days in bed, and his mother would move in to care for the whole family during this period of time. She was at home between times and made sure her sons had food and clean clothes in her absence. When Glenn finished eighth grade, he took on more responsibility for managing family affairs, and school days were over. By then he was an accomplished hunter and provided much of the meat on their table. As an adult, Glenn’s enjoyment of hunting continued. In 1928, Glenn moved to Detroit to find work, and there he met Browne Gilbert, who invited him to attend Highland Park Baptist Church and to meet the Gilbert family. Mrs. Gilbert ran a boarding house for southern men who had moved north to work, but Glenn was especially interested in Browne’s sister, Louise. They dated for about a year and eloped on May 24, 1931. During the Depression, times were very hard, but Glenn found work at White Tower hamburger joint and as a taxi driver. They lived with the Gilberts, then in other shared quarters. Glenn did not become a Christian until he and Louise had been married almost a year. Seeking to know God, he went by bus early one Saturday morning to the home of the assistant pastor, who greeted him at the door in his pajamas. He asked, ‘Glenn, what in the world are you doing here so early in the morning?’ Glenn answered, ‘I want to get saved!’ It was a joyful occasion for Louise, who was already a believer, to hear her husband relate the story when he got back home. Their first child, Donna Jean, arrived in May, 1932. They were living in a two-family flat in Hazel Park, MI when Donna started school. Glenn was working at auto factories, first at the Briggs plant, where his specialty was tacking upholstery in Plymouth cars, then at the Ford factory where he worked as an inspector. During World War II, his work included inspection of the B-24 Bomber. Ron was born in January, 1939 and, in December of that year, they moved to their own home in Ferndale, MI. By then they had a car ‘ a 1934 Plymouth. Ruth Ann came along in May, 1945. The most dramatic change took place in the Spring of 1947, when Glenn quit his job at Ford and took over the Fuller Brush route of a man who was ready to take up a pastoral ministry. His income more than doubled from the very first week, and he was soon able to buy his first new car, a Nash club coupe. Glenda was born in January, 1948. The summer months usually included a weekly trip to a nearby lake for swimming, water skiing, and picnic supper, often with friends along. During those years in Michigan, pheasant hunting in the fall was an annual event. It was a family pursuit, and Louise carried a gun as well. Glenn always filled his pheasant quota per license! Tent camping was the typical vacation for years; then later they pulled a 22-ft travel trailer over the ‘relative route’ for extended trips during retirement. By 1950, Glenn had been promoted to Field Manager with Fuller Brush and they moved to Royal Oak, where he set up his office and stock room in the basement. Hospitality and personal evangelism were always an integral part of their lifestyle, and their friends included missionaries, students, other Christians as well as unbelievers, people of all economic levels. Whenever weather permitted, they had most meals in ‘the screen house’ in the back yard, often the setting for fellowship. Everyone seemed to realize that, with Glenn and Louise, ‘what you see is what you get.’ He was an active Gideon and member of Christian Business Men’s Committee. There was seldom an event at the church that the family didn’t attend. Glenn was usually serving in some capacity, as a deacon, an usher, in the kitchen, transporting missionaries to the airport, and greeting visitors who were often invited to their home for dinner. Pastor referred to him as his ‘right hand man.’ Glenn and Louise had a ministry of encouragement wherever they were. Because of the broad age range of their children, they had family friends of all ages, and young couples often looked on them as models when setting patterns for their families. Love for others was the core of their lives, welcoming others to share whatever they had. Glenn and Louise prayed that one of their children would be a foreign missionary. God abundantly answered their prayers when all four of their children served in ministry overseas at the same time in Zambia, Guatemala, Japan, & Papua New Guinea, then later in stateside ministries. Several years after retirement, Glenn and Louise moved from Michigan to Clearwater, FL, where they continued to serve in the local church and opened their hearts and home to friends, both old and new. Following ten years of increasing dementia, Louise died in 1996. Glenn lovingly cared for her at home until her death, modeling for family and friends the ‘for better or for worse’ vow he had taken 65 years before. Glenn and Louise prayed together regularly but, upon Louise’s death, he took up her mantle of concentrated prayer. He continued to welcome others into his humble home and to minister to friends who had lost a spouse. In his last years in Florida, he joined others helping with MOPS Mothers of Preschoolers by preparing and serving the morning snacks to the children. Last December, on the brink of his 100th birthday, most of his descendants 64 came together in Brentwood, for a memorable time of rejoicing, recalling, and reciting praise to the Lord for His faithfulness. Several hundred people have lost a faithful prayer warrior! The names listed on his dog-eared 3X5 cards give evidence to his usual comment at the end of any telephone conversation, ‘I love you and pray for you every day!’ Glenn is survived by his four children: Donna Jean Richard Moran of Crossville, TN; Ronald Marcia Baker of Garland, TX; Ruth Ann James Lauer of Brentwood, TN; Glenda Daniel Mielke of La Grande, OR. His twelve grandchildren live with their families 32 great-grandchildren in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Idaho, California and Washington. Memorial Celebration Services will be at 5:00 PM, Wednesday, June 9 at Judson Baptist Church in Nashville. The family will gather one hour prior to visit with friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gideons, 50 Century Blvd, Nashville, TN 37214 or to Radio Bible Class, PO Box 2222, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2222.