Howard Baugh Obituary

Howard Baugh 

Howard Dean Baugh (86), dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully on Saturday, January 18, 2025, in Wichita, Kansas. Born December 9, 1938, in Walnut, Kansas, Howard was the son of Oren and Etta Baugh, who raised him on the family farm with his sisters Betty Ann, Norma Jean, and Virginia Kay. He married the love of his life, Roberta Augustine, on June 1, 1958. The couple remained happily married until Roberta’s death in 2016.

Shortly after they married, Howard spent five years in the Army stationed in Texas, Washington, and Greenland, where he worked on underground missile silos. A proud veteran and patriot, Howard was honored for his military service on the Kansas Honor Flight in 2019.

While in the Army, Howard and Roberta joyfully welcomed two children, Carla and Michael, and shortly thereafter, the couple returned to Kansas to raise their family. After working a couple years for Standard Oil delivering fuel to local farmers, Howard became a Farm Bureau agent, settling in Fredonia, Kansas, where he worked for 33 years, growing a thriving business before his retirement in 2003. After more than four decades in Fredonia, Howard and Roberta moved to Hesston, Kansas, in 2013 to be closer to family, where they were warmly welcomed into the community and soon discovered they had two hometowns. They loved their church families at the Fredonia and Hesston United Methodist Churches.

Howard was never one to sit still. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed gardening, mowing, playing golf, hunting, fishing, tinkering in the garage, and road tripping with Roberta. The couple loved to travel - Howard visited all 50 states as well as Greenland, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. 

His greatest joy was being a grandpa to Sheldon Neill (Viliphone), Shelby Shinkle (Justan), and Riley Dark. Howard and Roberta were devoted grandparents and never missed an opportunity to spend time with grandkids, whether hunting, fishing, sharing Sunday dinner, or cheering at their school and sports events. Howard was thrilled to become a great grandpa to Shelby’s four children: Joslyn (14), Finnigan (12), Fletcher (8), and Jensyn (6). 

His saddest days were the days he lost his wife, his daughter, and his son, but his unshakable faith in Jesus Christ was the hope that carried him through hard times. 

Howard was well known for his joyful and ornery spirit and his hilarious jokes and one-liners. He never met a stranger and treated everyone like family. He was kind-hearted and generous, often stopping to help neighbors or just check in. Howard was a devoted Christian, loving husband, proud grandpa, uncle Howie, fixer of things, fan of the Jayhawks, and lifetime country boy. Howard’s joy, laughter, and faith will continue to inspire and live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

Celebration of Life Services will be held 2:00 P.M., Friday, January 31, 2025, at Wickham Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 510 North 7th Street, Fredonia, Kansas 66736