Larry Wilbert Baumgardner

Larry Wilbert Baumgardner, 77, of Riceville, TN, went home to be with his Lord and Savior early Saturday morning, February 13, 2016, in the log home he built following a long battle with cancer. He was born on November 22, 1938, in New Galilee, Pa., to the late Wilbert Gilmore and Revera Eaches Baumgardner. He grew up in Hubbard, Ohio, and moved to Visalia, California where he resided for 25 years. He moved to Riceville in 1990. A graduate of Hubbard High School, he served in the U.S. Navy. He spent a career working in manufacturing as a maintenance technician, retiring from the Duracell Co. in Cleveland, TN. He was known as a skilled craftsman in wood and metal working. He was an active member of Candies Creek Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Reba Kerr, and grandson Jayce Tippit. He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Connie Kerr Baumgardner; his daughter and son-in-law Mary Beth and Mike Tippit; a son Daniel Baumgardner both of Visalia, Calif., and a son David Baumgardner of Simi Valley, Calif.; sisters Charlene Leipply and husband Rick of Lake Wales, Fla., Linda Plant and husband Donald of Columbiana, Ohio; and a brother, Erbin C. Baumgardner and wife Ruth of Riceville; sister-in-law and husband, Nancy and Bill Bailey of Athens, brother-in-law and wife Jackie and Jan Kerr of Chattanooga; a granddaughter Kayla Oaks and great-grandson, Clayton Palmer, both of Visalia, Calif.; cousins Ernie Pellow of Franklin, Pa.; Nancy Gandy of Grants Pass, Oregon; Phyllis King Johnson of Denver, Colo., and Dana King Bozick of Youngstown, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, at Candies Creek Baptist Church in Cleveland with the Rev. Jamie Work officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. until time for the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Candies Creek Baptist Church. You are invited to share a personal memory of Larry or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral & Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Baumgardner family with these arrangements.