Dorothy and Howard Baker's newlywed portrait. (Courtesy of Baker Family)

By Jennifer Willis | For The Oregonian/OregonLive

Howard and Dorothy (“Dotty”) Baker were married Oct. 31, 1942, in Vancouver, Washington.

The couple has four children, eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Howard, 96, was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division in World War II while Dorothy, who turns 92 on Oct. 6, worked as a nurse’s aide. After the war, they raised turkeys in Newberg for a time. Howard worked for ADT for 33 years.

We caught up with the Bakers in their Tigard home to learn their secret to a long and happy partnership.

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How did you meet?

Dotty: The church I belonged to had a gymnasium. On Thursday nights the boys would come in and they played basketball. This one young boy I knew, he come a-walking in. But he was followed. I’ve never seen him before. … And (Howard) asked the kid who I was. And he says, “I’m gonna marry that girl.”

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A portrait taken for Dorothy and Howard Baker's 50th wedding anniversary. (Courtesy of Baker Family)

Was it love at first sight?

Dotty: No! He was just a nice young man. He was quiet.

Howard: Well, I understood she thought so much of another guy. And I wasn’t about to try to interfere. I thought, “I’ll still marry her but it’ll take a little longer.”

Dotty: But several months went by. I didn’t see you.

Howard: Yeah, I went into the National Guard before the war.

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Dotty: One Sunday afternoon, I glanced out the window. And there’s Howard Baker. We talked for a little bit. And he says, “You want to go out on a date Friday night? I’ll be down for the weekend.” And that started it. Every time he had a pass, we would go out. And he was such a gentleman. Howard didn’t try to kiss me or anything. If he’s not even trying, what’s wrong with me? Well, the sixth time he came down, he gave me a peck on the cheek and ran off the porch and around the corner!

Howard: From then on, she grabbed me! I couldn’t get away.

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Dorothy and Howard Baker in their Tigard home. (Jennifer Willis/Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive)

Dotty: Then the war started. He came home on a furlough and he says, “We’re going to go shopping. I wanna get you a wristwatch.”

Howard: And she said, “I’d rather have an engagement ring.” When I went up to her folks’ place that night (she said), “Howard! Mom said we can get married!”

Dotty: On one condition. Mom said, “You have to finish high school.” By the time I got married, there were five to seven of us that were engaged or got married that year. In Oregon, there was a three-day waiting period. But Vancouver, you could get married the same day. So, his parents and mine, my mom and stepfather, we drove to Vancouver. Went to the courthouse, and the judge granted us the license. We stepped outside the courthouse. Well, there’s a justice of the peace. I did not know it was Halloween. I didn’t care what day it was. He was home!

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What have you enjoyed doing together?

Howard: Breathing fresh air!

Dotty: You know, we’re lucky. We have four of the greatest kids in the world. And the families, the grandchildren. … But we take him bowling. We dance. He taught me how to play golf. We square-danced. Camping. We went south for how many years?

Howard: Twenty years, I guess.

Dotty: We went down to Yuma, Arizona. We’d go down in January and come back the first of April. We met wonderful people down there. We’ve always been active.

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Dorothy and Howard Baker in their Tigard home. (Jennifer Willis/Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive)

What's your secret to a long and happy partnership?

Dotty: Patience. Before he goes to bed at night, there’s always a kiss. And a kiss first thing in the morning. We don’t go to bed mad. Not now. There’s times I coulda killed him. You have to learn to talk. … You have to work at marriage. There’s no doubt about that. You have to have respect for each other. If you have no respect, then you don’t have a marriage.

Howard: We’ve been surrounded with good people.

Dotty: Wonderful people! And the sad part of it is, all the people that we run around with are not here. They’re all gone.

Howard: That’s the trouble with living so long! If your health holds up, that’s a big item. Here’s the secret: You get your paycheck, and you turn it over to her. One condition! I have to have coffee money.

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Would you say your marriage has been a happy one?

Dotty: I’d say it’s been a doggone good happy one! We’ve had our ups and downs like everybody does. I mean, life is life. Things come up.

Howard: Especially now, she’s bossy as hell. Don’t wear that shirt. Change your socks! Don’t flirt.

Dotty: Well, you know, everybody changes in life. I’m a long ways from perfect, that’s for sure.

Howard: You didn’t tell me that 75 years ago.

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Do you know a long-married couple whose story you think we should tell? Send an email with "NW Love Stories" in the subject line to newsroom@oregonian.com.

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