Lonnie F. Baughman, loving husband and father, lost his battle with colon cancer on June 12, 2012. He was a fighter to the end. Lonnie was born November 3, 1954 to James and Leona Baughman in Yakima, WA. He grew up in Selah where he graduated in 1973. He then began his over 20 year career in the military beginning with the United States Marine Corps. When he returned to Yakima, he attended YVCC where he achieved his AA Degree and where he met Debbie Stephenson. They married and have two beautiful daughters that were his pride and joy: Melissa (Jason) Lantz and Ashley Baughman. He then joined the Marine Corp Reserve, National Guard...
Lonnie F. Baughman, loving husband and father, lost his battle with colon cancer on June 12, 2012. He was a fighter to the end.
Lonnie was born November 3, 1954 to James and Leona Baughman in Yakima, WA. He grew up in Selah where he graduated in 1973. He then began his over 20 year career in the military beginning with the United States Marine Corps. When he returned to Yakima, he attended YVCC where he achieved his AA Degree and where he met Debbie Stephenson. They married and have two beautiful daughters that were his pride and joy: Melissa (Jason) Lantz and Ashley Baughman.
He then joined the Marine Corp Reserve, National Guard Reserve, and spent the longest time in the ARMY Reserves 737th Transportation Unit. He was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 with the 737th Transportaton Company. His greatest honor was receiving his diamond and becoming 1SGT to those soldiers. He was an ornery and loving brother to Donnie (Jo) Baughman, Coke Brown, and Joyce Trepanier. Lonnie shared many wonderful memories with the Anderson Family and held a special place in his heart for them. He was a proud member of the VFW and the American Legion, served on the Selah Parks and Recreation Board, and was very involved in the Selah Dolphins Swim Team with his daughter Ashley.
He was a true friend, uncle, and fellow soldier to many. Weeks ago when Lonnie was not feeling well, he knew that his goal was to attend his daughter Ashley's high school graduation, and with the help of his wonderful nieces and nephews, Cylie and Jamie Alderson and Jacob and Jered Brown, he was able to achieve that goal.
We would like to say a special thank you to Dr. Albert Brady and his caring and compassionate staff at Washington Hematology and Oncology. Also, we give much gratitude to the loving nurses and caregivers on the Oncology floor and Hospice staff at Memorial Hospital.
Afterglow: I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways of happy times and laughing times and bright sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. today, Friday, June 15, 2012, at Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Terrace Heights Memorial Park with a Celebration of Life following at 12:00 p.m. at the Harman Center, 101 No. 65th Ave., Yakima, WA.
To share a memory of Lonnie, visit www.keithandkeith.com.