Tom Baumgardner

He attended schools in Shreveport, LA and graduated from Centenary College in Shreveport. Tom did graduate work at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and earned his MBA from California Coastal University. He was a member of Kappa Sigma and an Eagle Scout.

Tom moved to El Dorado in 1964 and retired from ConAgra Foods in 1993 where he was Vice President of Human Resources. He was active in community affairs serving as president of the boards of the South Arkansas Regional Health Center, Campfire Girls, SAAC Lunch Auxiliary, South Arkansas Arts Center, and the El Dorado Little Theater. He also served as Vice Chair of the board of the Union County Community Foundation, Chair of the El Dorado Airport Commission, Chair of the El Dorado Civil Service Commission, a YWCA Trustee, and most recently served on the board of the South Ark Community College where he also taught classes from 1981 to 1995. He was appointed to the panel of FMCS Arbitrators after his retirement and was a mediator for the EEOC. Tom was a world traveler and visited 55 countries and all 50 states. He was a Veteran of the United States Army and served in Germany.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church where he taught Sunday school, was a lay reader, and served two terms as Senior Warden on the vestry.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Roby Kelly Baumgardner.

Survivors include his loving wife of 60 years, Jeanne Brundrett Baumgardner of El Dorado; two children, Paul Baumgardner and his wife Wendy of North Little Rock; Pam Dixon and her husband Steve of Little Rock; brother, Raymond Baumgardner and his wife Ann of Longview, TX; and four grandchildren, Lindsey Hosford, Marcus Hosford, Tyler Baumgardner, and Chaney Baumgardner.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Doyle Barentine, George Haefner, Rolan Brevard, Dr. Kermit Parks, Mike Hearnsberger, John Trimble, and Bill Lines.

Memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, August 4, 2014, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church with Father Charles Chapman officiating. Cremation services are entrusted to Young’s Funeral Directors.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 512 Champagnolle Rd., El Dorado, AR, or to Union County Animal Protection Services, 1000 Sunset Rd., El Dorado, AR 71730.