Thomas Ralph Baughman, 78, of Louisville, KY, passed away on October 27, 2025 after a difficult battle with Parkinson’s Disease. 

Tom was born on August 28, 1947 to Bert and Vivian in the bustling city of Seattle, WA. His parents in later years divorced, then Bert fell in love with Elsie Jesser McCabe. With a wonderful blended family they moved to California and later to The Dalles, Oregon. There, Tom has wonderful memories of playing in the creek on hot days, helping on the farm, and being barefoot all summer. A real country boy. Tom graduated from Wahtonka High School in 1965.

After graduation, he volunteered to serve in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Tom was passionate about serving his country but was happy to go home 3 1/2 years later. He moved to Seattle, WA with friends, then met his soon-to-be bride, Jeanne Elaine Pontow, on a blind date. Tom and Jeanne were so enamored of each other that they married six months later on November 20, 1971. They went on to have three children and raised Amy, Emily, and Steven in Maple Valley, WA – a town just outside of Seattle. 

Tom’s passions included taking his family out on the Pacific Ocean to fish for salmon, working on his Alpha Romeo in the garage, playing boards games (especially Cribbage and Ticket to Ride) and volunteering as an umpire in Steve’s Little League. He loved the Seattle Sounders, Seahawks, and  rooting on the Mariners with the family in The Kingdome.

And after falling in love with jazz, he and Jeanne attended the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, CA for 15 consecutive years.

Tom retired in 2010 after working as a Large Equipment Operator at Seattle City Light for 35 years. While retired, Tom had time to pursue his love of geocaching. Over the next few years, he found over 5,690 geocaches and had fun exercising while doing it. One of his “travel bugs” (attached to a Hot Wheel sports car – another one of Tom’s loves!) has traveled 45,000 miles and was just recently found in the Netherlands! Tom also took great joy in helping to raise his first grandchild, Aiden Thomas Baughman. Aiden, Jeanne, and Tom enjoyed geocaching together. 

When Jeanne retired in 2019, Tom helped the family move to Louisville, Kentucky to be close to their other grandchildren, Finn and Molly. His three grandchildren were the joys of his life 

Tom was predeceased by his parents, Bert Kenneth Baughman and Elsie Elizabeth Baughman, and his brother Ray McCabe. He is survived by his wife Jeanne Elaine Baughman; his children Amy Elizabeth Baughman, Emily Ann Hawkins (Kevin) of San Diego, CA, and Steven John Baughman (Jenny); and his grandchildren Aiden, Finn, and Molly. He is also survived by his brothers Gerald McCabe, Kenneth William Baughman, and his sister Janice Baughman.

Services will be held at the New Albany National Cemetery, 1943 Ekin Ave, New Albany, 47150 on December 5, 2025 at 1:30. The family will host a celebration of life before the service (11:00-12:30pm) at The Shop at 2708 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/h7fKbc51kQAr84N96?g_st=ic

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Parkinson’s Research or to Civil Air Patrol Squadron 039 of Louisville. CAP is a meaningful part of Tom’s grandson Aiden's life and donations will sponsor future CAP cadets. 

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