I am so, so sorry to hear this sad news. We became friends when we worked together at the Anderson Independent, our first jobs out of college, and later continued the friendship when we all moved to Jackson, where my husband Bob worked for the Clarion-Ledger, and then later to Cincinnati. In fact, Lonnie was visiting us in Jackson (maybe interviewing with the Clarion-Ledger?) and the Mizzou contingent all went out together. Later that night, I went into labor with our oldest son. Kind of a memorable night for me! Lonnie always had a special place in his heart for our son and when he visited us, I knew it was as much to play with Ted as it was to see us. We left Cincinnati in the early '80s and I hadn't seen Lonnie for quite a few years, but stopped for a visit several years ago. We talked baseball, of course, and about our families, and reminisced about all the characters at the Independent. He was a wonderful storyteller and an even more wonderful person. I will be holding you in my prayers, Martie, Abby, Clark and Emily. (The photo below is from our wedding in 1975.)
Barbara PaynterActually, Martie, I only worked with Lonnie at the Anderson Independent. I paused my career when I started having kids, so it was my husband Bob who worked at the Clarion-Ledger and the Cincinnati Post. And since we were always on the news side, not... moreActually, Martie, I only worked with Lonnie at the Anderson Independent. I paused my career when I started having kids, so it was my husband Bob who worked at the Clarion-Ledger and the Cincinnati Post. And since we were always on the news side, not sports, the friendship was formed at the Anderson Independent where there were so many of us from Mizzou hanging out together. I always loved hanging out with Lonnie because he was interested in talking about other things besides newspapers.