William Edward Baughman Obituary

William Edward Baughman was faculty at Casa Roble High School in Orangevale, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about William Edward Baughman.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Passing	May 08, 2022
About	History and Coach William Edward Baughman April 9, 1929-May 8, 2022 Bill Baughman, beloved father, grandfather, husband, teacher and coach, passed away from natural causes on May 8. Bill (Dad, Grandpa, Mr. Baughman or Coach, depending on frame of reference), was a big-hearted, caring, generous soul, who had a positive impact on the lives of the thousands of people he touched over his lifetime. He gave so much love to his children and extended family, and he will be missed tremendously. Bill and his sister Ann and brother Larry were born in Nebraska and lost their father to Leukemia when Bill was only six years old. The family settled in Salina, Kansas, where Bill would thrive as a student and athlete. He played basketball and ran track in high school but excelled on both offense and defense in football. He continued his football at Kansas Wesleyan College while majoring in History, and his love for both continued when he graduated. Bill became a dedicated teacher of US History, which he loved throughout his over fifty years in the classroom. He taught and coached football in small towns in Kansas, ultimately settling with his family (wife Nadine, son Tim and daughter Jennie) in Ellinwood. But this was the 1960s and change and adventure were in the air. Bill moved with the family in 1966 to the island of Oahu in Hawaii, just recently a new state at the time. What a change from small-town Western Kansas—the family enjoyed snorkeling, bodysurfing, exploring the culture and history of Hawaii, and the Saturday Malasadas (Portuguese donuts)! He taught in Waipahu for two years, and the family decided to return to the mainland. Fortunately, they chose Sacramento, CA. Bill and family adapted well to California, taking full advantage of the wealth of recreational and cultural opportunities in their new home. Bill took the kids skiing, hiking, to college and professional sports events, and supported their various endeavors. Sacramento was ideal. Bill (Mr. Baughman/Coach) was a fixture at Casa Roble High School as a much-loved History teacher and coach, this time with the Rams’ Varsity basketball team. His teams always played hard but clean, reflecting his own belief in sportsmanship and fair play. He coached the boys’ varsity seven years before turning handing the reigns to JV Coach, confidant, and close friend through life Bob Ackley. But Bill’s love of teaching the game continued, and he coached the girls’ team for another seven years. As much as he enjoyed coaching, his real passion was teaching US History, and he taught full-time until 1993. He continued to substitute teach for many years after his retirement. Throughout his life, former students and players would approach him in restaurants or on the street and tell him he was “the best teacher they ever had”, and many told him (and those with him) that “he had changed their life”. Bill and Jean Williams were introduced by mutual friends in the last months of 1989. They became very good friends quickly because they both loved hiking, camping, and snow skiing. Jean had four grown up sons: Mike, Steve, Scott & Matt Williams, when Jean and Bill met, and soon they all began camping and hiking together. Bill soon became a cherished member of the family. Jean had a motor home so when Bill retired in 1993, she sold it and together they bought a truck and a Fifth-Wheel trailer. The next few years they traveled around the West, sometimes staying a month for someplace they particularly enjoyed. They often traveled to the Fort Bragg area where the Williams family had kept a two-bedroom trailer for 20 or so years. Every year Bill & Jean stayed a month in Palm Springs. In 1997 they decided to get married, so on a trip back to Kansas for a class reunion, they stopped in Fallon, Nevada and did just that. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and it must have been because they were still best friends when he passed away 32 years later. Bill lived a wonderful life, and he will be missed by all had the fortune to know him. His spirit lives on in his family and former students and players, and we are all better for it. A private celebration of Bill’s life is being held by the family.

Classmate Memories

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"buzz" (edward) Sotelo '75 said:

22 April '24: From "Buzz" Sotelo (Major (Ret). Sotelo, US Army), Casa Roble Class of '75; on 5 AUG '74, when my steady girl friend (Rhonda Keller) and i were standing outside his class room on Senior Square, he and I were discussing President Nixon's resignation from the Presidency and I BET him a MILKSHAKE that it would not happen/take place (being so WORLDLY at the age of 17 of course going into my SENIOR YEAR THE FOLLOWING MONTH, AND OF COURSE, BILL "WON" WHEN NIXON WAS FORCED TO "RESIGN"). Years later when I was a Special Agent Investigator with the Department of Defense and conducting a former student's Background Security Clearance Investigation at Casa Roble High School, speaking to the student's former Teachers (Mr. Baughman was one of them), I fulfilled my obligation (BET), FINALLY, to Mr. Baughman, by paying up with a LARGE VANILLA MILKSHAKE FROM FOSTER FREEZE TO HIM (SEPTEMBER 1983, EIGHT ("8") YEARS AFTER GRADUATING FROM CASA (CLASS OF "75). So many found memories of Mr. Baughman riding Donkies during the Donky Basketball games and also, him PROVIDING HISTORIC MOVIES ("MOVIE "1776" AND "SOLDIER" BLUE (INDIAN CAUSES), why I and Rhonda took many of his classes both our JUNIOR (73) through SENIOR *(74-75) YEARS (I even got to see him last, when he was residing temporarily in the Folsom Apartments in the early 90s when i was driving through Folsom). Man do i miss him, him and Mr. John Hauselt who he hung out with during the 70's through 90's), GREAT GUY, MR. BAUGHMAN WHO CONNECTED VERY WELL WITH HIS CHARGES (STUDENTS), SO GLAD HE LIVED SO LONG (NOW I KNOW WHY HE REFERENCED THE HAWIAN PEACE WORD ALL THE TIME). REST ALWAYS IN PEACE, MR. BAUGHMAN. Respectfully, "Buzz Sotelo", Class of "75", 49 years ago.... (man, always remember him crossing his arms, speaking to all of us in the combined classes (and helping Ms. WEST, learn how to be a good teacher in 74/75, ha, ha ha). 22 April 24

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