HONESDALE, PA — Melvin Baker celebrated his 105th trip around the sun on November 12.

On the Wednesday before his birthday, Roxanne Smith, the new organist at the Smith Hill Methodist Church, baked a cake that Pastor Canfield presented upon our arrival at the church.

Mel has been a Honesdale resident since 1938 and lives on Smith Hill with his son Kevin. He has another son, Kenneth Jr., who lives in Alaska.

He began our conversation by telling me that he enlisted in the service to secure his choice f being in the Navy. This adventure took him to San Diego, where he shipped out to the Island of New Hebrides, in the South Pacific, where he served on a munitions supply base.

Mel’s father was from Massachusetts, his mother was from New York, and they made their home in Passaic, NJ, where Mel was born. They subsequently move to Clifton, NJ. 

Mel is in amazing health for his age. He uses an oxygen machine sporadically; he said it came from the VA Hospital in Wilkes-Barre. He went through a double knee replacement in 2010.

Mel and his wife, Marion, used to make dolls. In 1938, while shopping for material at a fabric store run by Willie Diehl on Main Street in Honesdale, it came up that they were looking for a home in the area. Diehl said she had a friend in real estate.

“She called him up and no sooner than she hung up, he was there!” Mel recalled.

They visited several properties that afternoon and chose the one he’s still living in today. It’s a charming one-story home built by a carpenter named Ostrander, according to specs recommended by the couple. The property has distant views and lots of wildlife.

“I forgot to put the elevator in to get down to the basement!” Mel joked.

‘Don’t take driving away from me’

Mel worked in the perfume industry before his three-year enlistment in the Navy and finished his career by working 25 years for Shulton Inc., the makers of Old Spice and Desert Flower fragrances. He had high praise for the management of the company.

“One thing, working in a place like that, you didn’t have to worry about deodorant or anything like that!” Mel said. “When it came five o’clock there was a little walk to the bus, and the driver would make a remark to those already on the bus: ‘Here come the girls!’ It was a mix of males and females, because of the odor.”

What was his proudest moment?

“I’m living!” he answered. “God’s really been good to me.” 

Does he have any secrets to living a long life?

“Praying; the good Lord has kept me around all this time,” said Mel. “He’s really been good to me.”

Mel said he didn’t have anything special planned for his birthday but did recall his surprise 50th birthday organized by his son Kenneth Jr., then living in Texas. The party included many more guests than just immediate family and was held at Tick Tocks in Honesdale.

With Election Day just completed, I had to ask him about politics. “Forget it!” he replied.

Mel loves driving. He and his wife enjoyed traveling together, camping and visiting many states.

When I asked him about his wife, he at first said “Marion,” and then hesitated a bit. “Well actually, I had two.” Then he quickly interjected, “Not at the same time!” 

His first marriage ended in divorce after he enlisted in the service. His second wife, Marion, died in 1990. The two spent 52 years together.

Mel likes his independence. When I told him I heard he still drives, he said, “Oh sure! Don’t take that away from me.” Whenever he goes to CVS Pharmacy, an employee there confronts him with, “I don’t think you should be driving.”

“No matter when I see her, that’s what she says,” Mel said.