George Baker is a guest at the VA’s Nursing Skilled Care Unit, and has been there since having a stroke. Mr. Baker is a veteran of the US Army, where he was in the 82nd Airborne for 3 years, then in the National Guard for 3 years as an engineer. While in the army, he was sent to Korea. But the most interesting part of this Veteran’s life is his art. He has donated several of his pieces to the Hospice area of the Vancouver VA, and proudly displays a few in his room.

Mr. Baker started painting from a very early age. He won his first art contest at 8 years old. From that contest, he won a $50 war bond, a scholarship to Disneyland, and he never stopped painting. While in the military, he was honored to paint a background scene for a portrait of General Bragg. While living in Astoria in 1990, Ivan Reitman, the director of Kindergarten Cop, saw some of Mr. Baker’s art and it was displayed in the movie. Mr. Baker states that, unfortunately, he could never live off his art totally, but he did have some good months. As he says, “Art has its ups, downs, and peaks. It’s hard to live off of.”

Mr. Baker was trying to recover from his stroke so he could regain the strength in his arm and hand to be able to paint again. He did physical therapy twice a day, played Nintendo to help with his hand eye coordination, and visited with his children twice a week. When asked about the care he was receiving, Mr. Baker says, “If you have to be someplace, this is the place to be.”

George Baker died March 3, 2006 He will be remembered as a wonderful artist, veteran and friend .