Tributes

Thomas Houston “T.H.” Baker was born to Edna Earl McClanahan Baker and Houston Guthrie Baker on April 12, 1928 in Sutherland Springs, Texas. He went to be with the Lord on April 13, 2017, at the age of 89 years. T.H. joined the army at a young age and was a World War II veteran, having served in Italy in the 1940s. In the early 1950s, T.H. and his brother, Elmo, opened their first used car dealership, Baker Brothers Used Cars. T.H. was a pioneer in the used car business, and he had a dominating presence in the used car industry on the south side of San Antonio from the 1950s on. In the 1960s, T.H. discovered a passion for racing quarter-horses. Ruidoso Downs in Ruidoso, NM and Delta Downs in Vinton, LA were second homes to T.H. and his wife, Janie, for many years. T.H.’s pride and joy was Turf’s Best, his 1967 and 1968 world-champion quarter-horse. In his later years, he enjoyed life on his ranch in Elmendorf and continued involvement with Texas Auto Sales. He loved the Lord and was a faithful member of Glory Bound Baptist Church. He enjoyed having his family attend church with him and eating out afterwards. T.H. was predeceased in death by his parents, step-mother, Alpha Maggie Claire Baker, his brother, Varas Elmo Baker, and wife, Janie Gomez Baker. He is survived by his children, Thomas Wayne Baker, Carol Anne Barlow, and husband Jon, Donald Elmo Baker, Roy James Baker, and wife, Leslie, Edna Mae Hild, and husband, Russell, Edward Ray Baker, Gary Lee Baker, and wife, Becky, Dora Lee Cavazos, and husband, Daniel, Diana Jean Gonzalez, and husband Jose, Debra June Kirchner, and Darryl Houston Baker. T.H. is also survived by twenty-three grandchildren and thirty-three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday, April 17, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Brookehill Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Brookehill Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 12:30 p.m. Graveside services will be at Sutherland Springs Cemetery. A reception will follow at Hollow Creek Ranch. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Glory Bound Baptist Church.

Tributes

Thomas Houston Baker

April 12, 1928 - April 13, 2017