Raymond M. Baumgardner's Obituary
Raymond Martin Baumgardner joined his Savior Jesus Christ on November 5, 2024 at the age of 95. Ray was born on July 2, 1929 in Pulaski, VA to Roby and Mary Sue King Baumgardner. During his childhood, he split his time between Pulaski and his King grandparents’ farm on Little Creek just over Little Walker Mountain. Ray and his brothers and cousins developed strong bonds that last through today by working as farm hands for their grandfather and sitting around the kerosene lamp at night listening to their grandmother read the Bible.
At age 12, Ray’s immediate family moved to Shreveport, LA when his father took a job at the Louisiana Ordnance Plant after the outbreak of WWII. He spent his teen years in Shreveport excelling in school and working jobs such as pin setter at a bowling alley and soda jerk at a drug store. Ray was the first in his family to attend college, graduating with honors with an Electrical Engineering degree from Louisiana Tech in 1951. While at Tech, he met the first love of his life, Jewel Edwards. They were married shortly after he graduated.
Ray spent the first 17 years of his engineering career working for various defense contractors such as Silas Mason, General Dynamics, Lockheed, and LTV. He worked on projects that were vital to America mid-century such as atmospheric nuclear testing at the Atomic Energy Commission’s Nevada Nuclear Weapons Test Site, supersonic aerodynamic tests for the Defense Department’s jet engines and guided missiles, and systems to support NASA’s Apollo program. Ray and family moved 16 times during those years to places such as Amarillo, Las Vegas, Lone Star (TX), West Palm Beach, Longview, and the Clear Lake area of Houston.
In 1968 (partly due to Jewel’s wish to settle in one place), Ray switched gears and joined Texas Eastman in Longview where his work in the Electrical Engineering Department supported production of a variety of chemicals and plastics. At the time of his retirement in late 1993, Ray was head of Electrical and Instrument Engineering.
Ray and Jewel had children, Marty and Emma, who were born 8 years apart. Ray often said it was like having two “only children.” He was a wonderful father with his sense of humor, calm demeanor, and willingness to help with homework. Ray and Jewel enjoyed family gatherings and playing cards with friends. They were active members of Winterfield United Methodist Church for 25 years and enjoyed over 33 years of a strong marriage until her death in January 1985.
In July 1985, Ray admitted his struggles with alcohol and became active in Alcoholics Anonymous. He stayed deeply involved in AA until his health kept him from attending meetings. During this time, he sponsored numerous men facing similar struggles. There are probably dozens of men and families on a better path because of his passion for this cause.
In 1987, Ray met the second love of his life, Ann Reynolds, while playing golf. They were married within a few months and enjoyed over 35 years of marriage until her death in October 2022. Ray and Ann traveled often – some of their favorite destinations being Biloxi for golf and Las Vegas. In their later years, they enjoyed going out for lunch every day and made friends with the wait staff at several restaurants.
Just a few years after his Eastman retirement, Ray began contract work back in the Eastman plant and continued that well into his 80s until his eyesight prevented him from working. He had gone from using a slide rule in college to working with CAD-generated drawings.
Ray has spent the last 2.5 years at Hawkins Creek Assisted Living where both residents and staff were treated to his wit, humor, and when lucky his breaking out into song at meals. His family wants to thank everyone at Hawkins Creek for loving and serving him so well!
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers R.K. and Tom, and his wives Jewel and Ann. He is survived by son Dr. Marty Baumgardner and wife Kay, daughter Emma Kirchhofer and husband Brad, stepson David Quinn and wife Denise, and stepdaughter Kathy Dickerson and husband Scott. “Ray J.” (his chosen grandfather name) is survived by grandsons Caleb Baumgardner, Ben Kirchhofer and wife Abigail, Grant Kirchhofer and wife Dr. Maddie Flanagan, and Davis Kirchhofer and wife Bri – along with great-grandchildren CeCe and Jane Kirchhofer and Artie and Annalise Kirchhofer-Flanagan. Also surviving him are a number of step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren – all of whom fondly called him Ray J., too.
According to Ray he was “a Virginian by birth, a Texan by choice, and all else by the grace of God.”
The family will receive visitors at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 25, 2024, in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Road, Longview, TX 75601. A Celebration of Life service will follow at noon.
Donations in Ray’s memory can be made to the Louisiana Tech University Foundation for the benefit of the College of Engineering and Science (PO Box 1190, Ruston, LA 71273, Ph# 318-497-7529). Online donations can be made at www.latechalumni.org.
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