Obituary of Porter Baldridge

Porter Baldridge, 88, passed away December 24th 2019 in Tacoma, Washington. Porter was born December 2, 1931 in San Diego, California to Lloyd and Helen Baldridge. Porter is survived by the love of his life and wife of 65 years, Suzanne Baldridge, sons Mark (Kathy), Gary (Mary), Scott (Jena), daughter Janine (Suzy) and nine grandchildren.

Porter graduated from San Diego’s Point Loma High School and Pomona College in Claremont, California. Porter and Suzanne met in an English summer school class at Point Loma High School and were married in 1954.

Porter had a long career in the banking and financial professions. He was a trust officer at the Bank of America in Santa Ana and the Bank of California in Tacoma. After retiring from the Bank of California in 1995, Porter started his own financial services company where he administered trusts for many customers and family members.

Porter also taught a Trust course at Tacoma Community College for several years. Porter loved to travel and he and Suzanne traveled extensively throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Some of their favorite destinations included Scotland, England, Scandinavia and Hawaii. Porter had many varied interests including local politics (he served as a precinct chairman), watching UPS basketball games, river rafting and visiting Civil War battlefield sites.

Porter gave generously in supporting family, churches and Christian organizations.  Some of his favorite Christian organizations included Forest Home in the California San Bernardino Mountains and Wycliffe Bible Translators.  He also helped support individual missionaries.  He also believed in and generously supported the educational outreach of Colonial Williamsburg.  He traveled there many times.

Porter was a devout Christian and was a church elder. He loved singing in the choir and had a wonderful tenor voice. The family would like to thank Porter’s caregivers who graciously cared for him toward the end of his life - Nicole, Jerri, Pam, Holly and Merry.

Dad, we miss you.