John was raised on a farm in Hustonville and attended Wake Forest University for two years before completing his Civil Engineering degree at The University of Kentucky. After graduation, he went to work for TVA as a construction engineer. In 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp where he was trained as a logistics manager for depots in New York state supporting the repair and maintenance of B-17 bomber engines and propellers. Later in the war, John volunteered for transfer to flight status where he was training in Hondo, TX, to become a flight engineer on B-29 bombers, when the war ended. John was released from active service in 1946 with the rank of Captain and remained in the reserves until 1961. After the war, John returned to TVA and spent the next 36 years working on hydro-expansion projects, coal plant constructions, and nuclear plant construction at Browns Ferry in Athens and Hartsville Nuclear Plant site in Tennessee.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Elgin (Walker), son, James H. (Jimmy) Baughman, daughter, Elizabeth Ann Porter, sisters: Elizabeth B. Sommer, Virginia Baughman, and Margaret Baughman, and brother, Sam Baughman.
John is survived by his granddaughters, Becky and Allison Porter and son-in-law, Steve Porter.
John loved the Smokey Mountains, and in particular, he cherished his memories of Cades Cove. He was well read on the history of that region, and he and Elgin enjoyed hiking, photographing flowers and bird watching in the park. The family wishes to express a very special thank you to the many caregivers who provided John with friendship and companionship over the past seven years.
John will be laid to rest this Sunday, April 17th. A graveside service will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Hustonville Cemetery by the Rev. David Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in John’s name to the Athens Limestone Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens, AL (256-771-7578).
Local arrangements are entrusted to W.L. Pruitt Funeral Home in Moreland.