Since this thing has a 2000 character maximum, I had to just share a couple more small memories about my uncle Fidel.

I remember he had a penchant for garage sales when I was younger. I recall that all of us who were flying in to a BBBMGT were advised that we did not need to bring golf clubs because he had plenty for everyone. In going into his garage, not only did he have enough, we were each able to build our own custom sets from quite the selection. 

I also remember that he bought one or two small tractors when he had his place on Whidbey Island. Part of this was to keep the blackberry and raspberry bushes at bay, but he also leveraged them to make a small “part 2” golf hole that ended up being our first tournament of the family reunion.

When his health was good, I remember one of his favorite things was my dad‘s hot and spicy elk jerky. My dad would make 2 1-gallon Ziploc bags full of jerky to bring to him.  The first bag was left out and shared with everybody generously. Often later on in the evening, one of my uncles (with a bit of light-hearted mischief) would try to locate that second bag having also enjoyed the contents. Nobody could ever find where uncle Fidel hid that second bag of jerky.  Later on the phone, my dad would be talking to uncle Fidel and find out that he had nursed that bag for a month or two after we left, just trying to savor his favorite jerky.

He was my uncle Fil, the man who patiently answered all of my questions about the Navy when I was interested in going in. (I never did, however.) He was a character.  In my experience, he was quick witted, but never mean and had a quiet generosity about him.  

As we all get older, through the grace and love of Jesus, we’re working on one more reunion as the years go by. Isaiah 25:6 talks about choice meats in heaven.  I don’t know what that looks like in implementation when we get to heaven, but I wonder if God would let my dad make uncle Fil some elk jerky.  See you soon, uncle Fil.

I remember my Uncle Fidel/Uncle Fil for his humor, mostly (nobody was safe).  Most of my memories are from family reunions (BBBMGT).

Going to eat with him was always an adventure.  When the waiter or waitress would come to the table for the first time, that was the event to watch. The waiter was a target of opportunity.  One of his repeated jokes was finding out something about you (e.g. your occupation) followed by:

“Oh that’s interesting, but I hear that can make you **indistinct mumbling**”

Naturally, the response would be something like “I’m sorry, what?”

Response - “I hear that can make you **indistinct mumbling**”

**Confusion** “I’m sorry, I still didn’t get that.”

Punchline:  “I hear that can make you HARD OF HEARING.”

The twinkle in his eye and that smile as mentioned in the obituary, always put the waitress or waiter at ease, and we always ended up having a good time,

However, I do recall when one waitress unknowingly and very sweetly got revenge for all the other waiters and waitresses that we’d. ever encountered.  I could be wrong, but I believe it was my uncle Billy, my dad, my uncle Jim, and I who were at lunch with my uncle Fidel around mid June during one of the reunions.  The waitress approached our table, took a quick survey of the apparent ages of everybody seated, looked at all of us, smiled a big smile, and said, “Oh, this is so sweet.  You’re taking your dad out for Father’s Day!” 

The other four of us looked at the waitress, and then looked at my uncle Fidel and burst into laughter.  He didn’t have a retort for that.  However, he did take it well.  The waitress was mortified when we explained to her that the four older gentleman at the table were all brothers and then I was one of the nephews/sons.  However, we also explained to her the victory she’d won on behalf of all the other waitresses and waiters in the past.

I was stationed at Whidbey Island with Fil’s son James for many years in the 1990s and 2000s and got to see Fil and Pat many times over the years. We attended Living Word Fellowship with James and Juli and our last tour there I remember that at some point Fil and Pat moved onto the island and also attended there. I remember enjoying many conversations with Fil after church. He would be sure to come up and say hi and would also chat up my parents when they came to stay with us for a month that last summer we were there in 2009. He had a dry sense of humor and was always good for a laugh. I remember him for the joy he brought into a room. Prayers for the Bacas during the is difficult time.

My condolences to the Baca family.  My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow.  I will always remember the special bond Fil and I shared, and I’m privileged to have known and loved him.  Rest in peace Fil, God speed.

My prayers and thoughts are with the Baca family. 
Fidel is at peace and with the Lord.
May God be with you during this difficult time.
                                                 Peggy & Tony Blasi

Our deepest condolences to Pat and family. Feeling nostalgic in remembering Fil tonight, and being reminded of how our daughter, when she was little, used to call him “Uncle Del.” Such a sweet memory. We are glad she was able to reconnect with him & Pat when they moved to Placitas from Whidbey Island. We were all blessed to have them here for as long as we did, and will miss them both so much always. But we are grateful that Fil is no longer suffering. We will always remember the many nights spending weekends together at their Whidbey Island home or ours in Duvall,WA; playing cards with them, taking an Alaskan cruise together, going to yard sales and more. I, personally, remember the night I met Fil. He took Billy, Jim and I for a ride in his Porsche on Tramway Blvd. in Albuquerque. I was PETRIFIED, but he was completely cool calm and collected. Fil was one of a kind, yet I see him in all of his brothers- his wit, his ‘never met a stranger’, and his devotion to his family. He will be greatly missed.

OBITUARY

Captain Fidel Leroy "Fil" Baca

May 29, 1940 – August 19, 2026

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