Dr. George R. Baker

Dr. George R. (Dick) Baker Dr. George R. (Dick) Baker, 83, passed away on May 9, 2007 at a Boise care facility after a battle with cancer. Dick was a prominent Boise physician for 50 years, and practiced internal medicine and nuclear medicine at St. Luke's Hospital. Dr. Baker was born in the Puget Sound area of Western Washington to George and Eula Baker. Dr. Baker wanted to be a doctor from the age of five. He attended schools in Tacoma before moving to Yakima where he was senior class president at Yakima High School, and graduated in 1941. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1944, and earned his medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical School in 1948. While in medical school, Dick was introduced to his future bride, Betty, by his good friend Al Randall and Betty's cousin Lorraine Weinmann at U.S.O. dances in Portland. Dick and Al were co-managers of the Theta Kappa Psi Medical Fraternity. Dick and Betty were married June 24, 1947 at the First Presbyterian Church in Boise. Betty's uncle, Dr. John D. McCormick officiated (as he had at the marriage of her parents). After graduation, Dick and Betty moved to St. Paul, Minn., for a one-year internship at Ancker Hospital. Dr. Baker began his residency in internal medicine at the V.A. Hospital in Denver, but his training was interrupted in 1951 by the Korean conflict. Dick, an Air National Guard member, was called to active duty by the Air Force for two years, receiving flight surgeon training at Randolph AFB near San Antonio, followed by tours at base hospitals at Ft. Logan near Denver and FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne. In 1953, Dick and Betty moved back to Denver where Dr. Baker completed his residency. Dick and Betty, with their two young sons, Delwyn and Carl, moved to Boise in 1954. There, Dr. Baker joined Drs. C.C. Johnson, O.F. Swindell, and William D. Forney in their practice of internal medicine and diagnosis. In 1957, Dr. Baker established the first radioactive isotope laboratory in Idaho at St. Luke's Hospital for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Although medical use of radioactive materials started in 1946 in the U.S., their use was new in Idaho. Dr. Baker received special training and a license from the Atomic Energy Commission to use radioactive materials in the laboratory. In 1965, Dr. Baker established his private practice on Idaho Street, moving in 1978 to an office he and Betty designed and built an office on W. Bannock near St. Luke's. His son Delwyn practiced with him from 1986-1991. Dr. Baker served as Chief of Medicine at St. Luke's Hospital from 1969-1971, and was Chief of Staff at Elks Rehabilitation Center. He received his board certification in nuclear medicine in 1976. Dr. Baker retired from medical practice in 1995, but remained active in the medical community, and continued to attend medical lectures at St. Luke's until shortly before his death. After retirement, Dick and Betty enjoyed traveling to visit their children and attending Elderhostel sessions in Washington, California and the United Kingdom. They shared a lifelong love of learning, music and exploring the Idaho backcountry by foot, car and boat. Their hobbies included hiking, skiing, photography and fishing. They enjoyed attending Philharmonic and chamber music concerts, Idaho Opera and Boise Little Theater plays. They were members of the 1st Presbyterian Church Ark Club, and the Boise Camera Club. Dick was a member of the Kiwanis Club. Dr. Baker is survived by Betty, his wife of nearly 60 years; his son Delwyn and wife Susan and their son and daughter Jon and Carol; his son Carl and wife Sue; his son Bruce and wife Patty and their daughters Cassandra and Sabrina; and his daughter Nancy and her husband Mike Smelser and their son, Ian. Dr. Baker's life will be celebrated with a Memorial Service on Aug. 11, 2007 at 1 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4601 S. Surprise Way in Boise, ID. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions may be made to the Mountain States Tumor Institute.