Cullen Baker

Cullen Y. Baker Jr., 70, died peacefully on Sunday, September 7, 2008 in Portland, Oregon where he had resided the past 8 years. The son of Lucille Moffit and Cullen Baker Sr., he was born in Longview, WA on June 16, 1938. His grandparents were long time Peninsula residents, C. R. "Bub" and Alice Yeaton Baker, both of pioneer area families. Cullen resided in Portland until 1949 when he and his family relocated to Seaview. He was a 1956 graduate of Ilwaco High School and graduated from Washington State University in 1960. Following graduation from WSU, Cullen was employed by Christian Brothers in their offices in Detroit, Michigan where he met and married Bonnie Halboth. They moved to Napa, California in 1964 where he was employed by Christian Brothers Winery as the human resources manager and raised his family. He returned to the Pacific Northwest in the late 1990s. Cullen is survived by his daughter Cheryl McBeth of Rocklin, California; son-in-law Matt McBeth; grandchildren Cameron and Kelsey McBeth; brother and sister-in-law Jerry and Vicki Baker of Canby, Oregon; and many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son Cullen Yeaton Baker III and his sister Phyllis Ann Esping. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 1:00 PM at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea in Long Beach. A reception follows at the chapel. Private committal will take place at a later date. His family requests that memorials may be made to the Ocean Beach Education Foundation in care of Penttila's Chapel, PO Box 417, Long beach, WA 98631. The guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.