Benton Baggett

Lonnie Benton Baggett, 79, passed away June 7, 2013 at Hillcrest Medical Center in Waco, Texas. He was born on December 30, 1933 in Freestone, Texas. He was the youngest of four children born to Lonnie and Laura Baggett. He graduated from Teague High School in 1951. Benton enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 1956, underwent basic training at Fort Hood, Texas and was sent to Augusta, Georgia where he trained with the Signal Corp. From there, he was deployed to Fort Meade, Maryland; he played the drums in the U.S. Army Pipe and Drum Corp. until being honorably discharged in September 1958. He married Crowell Ann Clark, of Teague, Texas, on February 16, 1957 and they moved back to Texas upon his discharge. He gained employment with the Texas Highway Department in 1959 and retired from the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation in 1987. Beginning in the sixties, he operated a bicycle shop at his home, where he built, repaired, bought, and sold bicycles. To those who didn't know his name but required bike repair, he was known simply as "the bicycle man." Benton had enjoyed being outdoors his entire life and was happiest while tending his cattle, raising vegetables in his garden, fishing, or doing anything that involved being on his tractors. He also enjoyed participating in worship services by singing and playing harmonica for the elderly and infirmed at local retirement homes. And he never met a pecan that he didn't like. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Vernon Baggett; and sisters, Eula Elliott and Kay Shipp. Survivors include his wife, Ann Baggett, of Mexia, Texas; son, Stan Baggett and wife, Kelly, of Hudson Oaks, Texas; son, Jeff Baggett, of Crawford, Texas; grandson, Nathan Baggett, and wife, Carol, of Weatherford, Texas; granddaughter, Laura Cooke, and husband Lucas; great-grandchildren Maverick Baggett, Benjamin Baggett, and Emma Cooke; many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind a host of faithful and cherished friends at Temple Baptist Church in Mexia, Texas, where he was an ordained deacon. Funeral services will be held Monday, June 10, at 2 p.m. at Blair Stubbs Funeral Home in Mexia, Texas with Bro. Michael Vestal of Temple Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery in Teague, Texas. Family visitation will be held at Blair Stubbs Funeral Home on Sunday, June 9, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Visitation Details

Sunday, June 9th, 2013 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home

Service Information

Monday, June 10th, 2013 2:00pm, Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home