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John T. Baugh Jr.

John T Baugh Jr age 91 of Lebanon, TN passed away Friday, February 28, 2025 at home surrounded by his family and friends.  He was preceded in death by his father, John T Baugh, Sr, and his mother, Stella Mai Smith.  John is survived by his wife, Deborah Baugh, his brother George Baugh, sister Frances Cullum, son, John Baugh III, daughters, Dana Lea Baird (Ed), and Jan L Taylor., grandchildren, Devon Taylor, Cameron Taylor, Katie Goodman, Ansley Baugh and Marian Baugh, great-grandchildren, Gracie Mai Taylor, John David Taylor, and Emma Taylor and many other family members and friends.

John served in the US Navy during the Korean War serving on both USS Renshaw and USS Gregory from March 3, 1952, to February 27, 1956 participating in five naval engagements and Operation Castle.

John was a Nashville native, Building Contractor, Realtor and Business Leader and became the founder and Chairman of Centurion Stone Products (Formerly Coronado Stone) in 1969.  John started his flying career as pilot of his own company and became an avid aviation Leader in the Warbird and Flying community nationwide best known for performing airshows in his P-51 Miss Coronado.  John served many years on the Lebanon Airport Commission, TN Aeronautics’ Commission, National EAA Board, National EAA Warbird Board serving as President five terms and serving as President on many local organizations thru the years including EAA, QB’s, Nashville Homebuilders, Rotary, and many others.

John was inducted in the Warbird Hall of Fame in 1995, TN Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004, won the 1998 ESPN Telly Award for “Keep Em Flying” and awarded Award of Excellence for Career Contributions in 2005 by the TN Aeronautics Commission.  Johns’ accomplishments include the founding of the Young Eagles Program, Nationwide Warbird Chapters starting the first in Lebanon.  John was a FAA Safety Designee and Formation Flight Leader flying many airshows along with his wife Deborah in their matching T34’s for many years.

John was a member of the Cedar Creek Yacht club and served on the Cedar Creek church committee for many years.

John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be sorely missed by his family.  Serving as pallbearers will be Devon Taylor, Roger Cunningham, Mike Apple, nephews,  Sean Keen, Rex Fletcher, Kevin McDonald, Jason Redmon, Jerry Kirby, Jon Kay and Jud Nogle.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m., and Thursday March 6, 2025 from 10 to 11 a.m., with Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. at Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home, 241 West Main, Lebanon, Tennessee.  Mike Keen will officiate the service.

Interment will follow with military honors at 1:30 at Woodlawn Memorial Park (Field of Honor), 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville, TN 37204.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to TN Aviation Hall of Fame Museum Fund, EAA Warbirds of America, EAA Lebanon Chapter 863 Scholarship fund, and or to Cedar Creek Yacht Club church by the lake, and or Dementia Society of America.

LIGON & BOBO FUNERAL HOME of Lebanon   www.ligonbobo.com

Messages for the Family

  1. Bob Minter says:
    Few if any have contributed so much to aviation in Tennessee and thru EAA. He and Deborah were a real team. Their legacy will always be a significant part of our states aviation history and both are n m embers of the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame.
  2. Royce and Faye jackson says:
    John served his county, state, and county with distinction and honor! I had the pleasure to know John during his service to the Tennessee aeronautical commission, which he led for a number of years.May GOD BLESS his family during this difficult times.
  3. Robert & Susan Falk says:
    Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to John and his family. We have known John and his family for many years from when we first met at the BNA airport in 1974 where we were hangar buddies where I kept my plane and John had his fleet of planes from a Stearman, P51 Mustang, Mitsubishi Zero and a Navajo. We had great fun in together along with myself flying John’s planes at varies airshows. John contribution to aviation had great inspirations on many children learning about airplanes and their desire to become a pilot. John will not be forgotten for his role in aviation and business, along with his good humor. We enjoyed John passion not only in aviation but also his love of boating and the times we spent a Cedar Creek Yacht and those Friday night cocktail parties.
    John is flying higher into eternity where we will miss him.
  4. Dave Barton says:
    John was wonderful guy he loved my grandson Ryder he would always mess with him at CCYC church, and then give him a dollar. We will miss him very much.
  5. Carlene Waller says:
    Met John at his hangar while a dear friend, Jerry Myatt, now retired CMSgt of the TN Air National Guard maintained his aircraft. While I never had he pleasure of meeting his wife it was obvious to me the great love he had for her. I saw John again while working at MNAA, He knew my daddy, retired USAF CMsgt, who had many dear friends at the guard, John has now joined those special fliers who have “reached out and touched the face of God.” My deepest condolences to all of his family and extended friends. I have but one regret in meeting you John and that was turning down the opportunity you offered me to take your beloved P-51 up and over Nashville. Aviation is in my blood, being a military brat (some say still so) for the 30 yrs, 7 mos and 12 days my daddy served his country and having the opportunity to work for the best ever US Airline, Piedmont. Fly high men; God willing I will meet you again in the wild blue yonder.
  6. T. O. and Doris Cragwall says:
    John’s passion for aviation and especially for the Lebanon Airport family will live on. We offer to Deborah and family our sincere condolence and support in this great time of need. May God bless and keep you.
  7. Roy Williams says:
    I met John later in our life.
    I’ll always remember, I was in awe reading all the articles, certificates & accolades at his hanger. I was amazed!
    He had a personality bigger than life, spoke pridefully of his family, and a gentle kind heart.
    Rest in peace my friend.