Neil Brian Baughman

Neil Brian Baughman entered the loving arms of God on Sunday, April 6, 2025. His leaving was unexpected but we know that it was the time when God was calling him home.

Neil was born on June 24, 1949 in South Bend, Indiana to Robert and Zelma (Herbster) Baughman. He grew up on Stanton Road in North Liberty, Indiana, and had so many wonderful memories of playing in the creek behind his country home, riding his bike on country roads, mowing for others and baling hay for a nearby farmer. He always loved fishing and enjoyed many outings with family members. His love of the outdoors and the country was lifelong.

He graduated from North Liberty High School in 1967, Purdue University with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1971, and later from The Ohio State University with a MS in Electrical Engineering. The Purdue guy really had to deal with attending Ohio State, but he survived! He was a licensed Professional Engineer in both Indiana and Ohio.

Neil worked for Indiana & Michigan Electric Company following his college graduation and joined American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio in 1981. He served with AEP for 42 years, only retiring due to a stroke.

Anyone who knew Neil knew a kind, gentle, patient person who had a great sense of humor. His family meant the world to him and he was a complete Purdue University fan. He watched every football and basketball game while wearing one of his many Purdue shirts.

He loved sports his entire life. He played basketball and softball in his younger years, but running was his passion. He spoke often of the joy of running Cross Country for his North Liberty High School team, and continued running throughout his entire life, until having a stroke in 2008. His first words to the ER doc were to ask if he would still be able to run.

Neil coached both of his daughters in soccer. When WASA decided to begin offering an all-girls league, he was asked to be one of the first four coaches in that league and coached there for many years. He had never played, so also joined an adult soccer team to better learn the game. He played soccer well into his 50’s on the “Wheezers and Geezers” team.

When the stroke made other sports unavailable to him, a PT told him about a golf league for neurological patients, so that became a new sport for him. He golfed one-handed, with therapists close by, and loved every minute of it.

Neil loved music almost as much as sports, singing in church choirs much of his life, as well as high school musicals, and he loved show tunes and his Oldies 60’s music in his later years. His hand was always tapping to the beat. While his daughters were in high school, he was an active member of the Westerville South Band Boosters and served as the President of that organization for several years.

Neil is preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law, Larry Anderson, and a sister-in-law, Sandra Baughman.

Neil is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kathryn (Bauner) Baughman, two daughters, Sarah Terborg (Jonathan) of Galena, Ohio and Laura Lesher (Matthew) of Sunbury, Ohio, and four beloved grandchildren, Kayla Lesher, Austin Lesher, Ava Terborg, and Harper Terborg. He is also survived by two brothers, Richard Baughman of Kingman, Arizona and Dan Baughman (Carolyn) of Plymouth, Indiana; two sisters, Beth Anderson of North Liberty, Indiana and Ellen Jones (James) of Indianapolis, and a brother-in-law, Ken Bauner of Niles, Michigan.

There will be an Ohio visitation from 3-6PM on Saturday, April 26 at Newcomer NE Chapel, 3047 E. Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus, OH 43231. There will also be an Indiana visitation from 2-5PM on Saturday, May 10 at Palmer Funeral Home Lakeville Chapel, 601 N. Michigan St, Lakeville, IN 46536. A family burial will be held at a later date at Sunbury Memorial Park, Sunbury, OH with a Pastor from Liberty Presbyterian Church officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fore Hope Therapeutic Golf at Ohio Health Foundation, 3430 OhioHealth Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43202 or on-line at giving.ohiohealth.com/donate; or to Tunnels 2 Towers Foundation at t2t.org.