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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Virginia Nancy Birt Baker on January 20, 2019, at the age |
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of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, The former Ginny Birt was born on August 22, 1929, in |
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Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Gladys and Charles Birt, and she grew up |
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with the companionship of a sister, Catherine; she moved with her |
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family to Texas at age 10 and went on to attend Highland Park High |
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School and Southern Methodist University, where she graduated with |
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a degree in interior design; and |
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WHEREAS, Seeking an opportunity to see the world, she |
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traveled to Europe to work as a civilian for the United States Army |
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and met her future husband, Charles "Chet" Baker, while in |
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Gelnhausen, Germany; the couple wed in 1956, and over the course of |
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a rewarding marriage that spanned 62 years, they became the parents |
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of four treasured children, Juliette, Christopher, Nancy, and |
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Matthew; later in life, Mrs. Baker was affectionately known as |
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"Grammar" to her 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Mrs. Baker served as the textbooks |
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chair for the Daughters of the American Revolution, a role in which |
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she evaluated public school textbooks and testified numerous times |
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before the State Textbook Committee; out of a strong desire to |
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ensure that their children received a quality education, she and |
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her husband decided to homeschool, and Mrs. Baker became a tireless |
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advocate for that method of instruction, publishing Teaching Your |
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Children at Home, one of the first manuals for parents; in addition, |
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she spoke at homeschool seminars and conferences in many states, |
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wrote for national homeschool publications, and testified on behalf |
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of home education on numerous occasions; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Baker was also active with the Reading Reform |
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Foundation and was a frequent speaker at its seminars; she was a |
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longtime member of such societies as the Magna Charta Dames, the |
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Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, and the Sons and |
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Daughters of the Pilgrims, and her research and writing covered |
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genealogy, politics, history, and Biblical studies; and |
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WHEREAS, Ginny Baker generously shared her time, knowledge, |
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and expertise in her quest to empower parents to make the best |
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decisions for their children's education, and she will forever be |
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remembered with deep admiration and affection by her loved ones and |
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by those whose lives were touched by her work; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Virginia Nancy Birt Baker and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to her relatives and friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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Virginia Baker. |