Ginger Lea Baker-Hipps, 59, died at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville, on June 21, 2008, following a courageous 28-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. She was born Aug. 8, 1948, to James C. and M. Dura (Billingsley) Baker in Logansport, La.
Ginger grew up on the family dairy farm in Logansport. At age 12, she moved with her family to Houston, Texas. Ginger was a very active member of her high school class and was a percussionist and drum majorette with the band. She graduated from Aldine High School in Houston with the class of 1966.
Ginger was a very gifted student and attended the University of Houston, graduating after just three years with bachelor’s degrees in both Spanish and physical education. She soon began work with Eastern Airlines as a flight attendant, and with her fluency in Spanish was certified by Eastern to take flights to Central and South America. She spent her career with Eastern based in Atlanta. In 1980, she was diagnosed with M.S. She met a pilot for Eastern Airlines and on August 17, 1990, she married William D. Hipps in Peachtree, Ga.
Ginger stayed with Eastern Airlines for 24 years, until they ceased operations in 1991. She then went to work for the U.S. Customs Service, Nations Bank and finally for Newnan Hospital in Atlanta. She was medically retired in 1997 and in 2003, she and Bill moved to Oak Harbor.
Ginger had been an excellent athlete her entire life. She was a runner who completed a 10-mile run every day, she was a bicyclist, an avid tennis player and loved to water and snow ski. Her greatest passion was travel. There is hardly a corner of the earth she has not visited. She loved her family and was a woman of incredible strength. She battled the disease that eventually confined her to bed and took away her mobility.
Ginger is survived by her loving family, husband Bill, at the family home, Oak Harbor; one daughter, Monte Lea Gruber of Atlanta; two stepchildren, Dr. William Michael Hipps and wife Christine of Houston and Michele Diane Hipps and Jason Gravitt of Atlanta; one brother, James “Jim” Baker and wife Sandra of Houston; two grandchildren, Chloe Diane Gravitt of Atlanta and Dylan Michael Hipps of Houston; nephews Stacy Edward Baker, Jonathan Caudill and James Travis Baker, all of Houston; and many, many friends around the world. Her parents preceded her in death.
Cremation was held with inurnment to follow at Brookside Cemetery, Houston. Services are pending. Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter, 8111 N. Stadium Drive, Suite 100, Houston, Texas, 77054. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
