Ronald Sullivan Baumann

Ronald Sullivan Baumann

Knoxville, TN

Ronald Sullivan Baumann went to be with the Lord on April 10, 2018 at age 79. He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and was class president at Bearden High School. He attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. While at UT Knoxville, he met and married his wife, Marti. He graduated in Dentistry from the University of Tennessee at Memphis. In 1964, Ron joined the Army and was in charge of the 536th medical dispensary in Ansbach, Germany. He was a major when he completed his service in 1968. He returned to Knoxville and began his private dental practice. He sang in the choir and worked with special needs adults at Woodlawn Christian Church. In 1980, he took his family of six to Zambia, Africa, where he spread God's word for 15 years. In 1995, Ron moved to Colorado to do mission work for Turkish World Outreach. In 2005, he returned to Knoxville, joined Laurel Church of Christ, and made several short-term mission trips to China. He also had a small antique business. Ron was very proud that he was related to Ashley and Emma Johnson, and was an honorary alumnus of Johnson University.

Ron was a huge University of Tennessee sports fan, and enjoyed being a gatekeeper at Neyland Stadium in later years. Ron did not know a stranger, and always took time to know every person he encountered. His smile and friendliness brightened many faces, and his Christian witness impacted people in Knoxville and around the world.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Anna Baumann, and sister, Barbara Mynatt. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Martha Mobley Baumann; son, Jeffrey, and daughter-in-law, Robbie of Carrollton, Georgia; son, Russell, and daughter-in-law, Silvana of Chandler, Arizona; daughter, Susan, and son-in-law, Carl Mallette of Knoxville, Tennessee; son, Andrew, and daughter-in-law, Carey of Acworth, Georgia; sister, Jo Anne Whitt; grandchildren, Stephen, Katherine, Anna, Drew, and Alexander; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on April 12 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel on Kingston Pike. Family and friends will meet at Highland Memorial Cemetery on April 13 at 10:00 AM for a graveside service with Dean Davis officiating. Online condolences may be received at www.rosemortuary.com.

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith..." Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB