Donald Calvin Baucom

Donald Calvin Baucom, 90, formerly of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Clover Hill Senior Living, Maryville, Tennessee. Born in Tobaccoville, North Carolina, he was the son of William Vatchel and Mary Nixon Baucom. Don is survived by his wife of 44 years, Doris Bost Baucom of Spruce Pine, NC, a brother, William Charles Baucom of Pilot Mountain, NC; three children from a previous marriage; Chris Baucom (Helen) of Clemmons, NC, Carol Baucom Houser (Craig) of Knoxville, TN and Chanon Baucom Landenberg (Robert) of Loudon, TN; five grandchildren, William, Katie, Sarah, Bobby and Jesse and six great-grandchildren, a step-son Michael Teague (Nadine) of Spruce Pine, NC, two step-grandchildren, Tonya and Devin, and one step-great-grandchild. Don graduated from Berea College, Berea, KY in 1957. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956, completing Officer Candidate School, serving over eleven years, and retiring as a Captain in 1967. He worked for the Soil Conservation Service and then completed post graduate study at North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville before contributing to the North Carolina education system as a teacher at various schools, a teacher and administrator with Mayland Technical College and retiring as principal of Mitchell High School in Ledger, North Carolina. After his second retirement he served seven years as administrator for the First Presbyterian Church of Spruce Pine, organized and chaired the Deer Park Lake Property Owners Association and always helped many others. Funeral services officiated by Rev. Michael Poulos will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 1, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Spruce Pine, 970 Greenwood Road, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to services at the church. A private burial will be held for the family following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church of Spruce Pine, online at www.firstpressprucepine.org or by mail to P.O. Box 764, Spruce Pine, NC 28777, Berea College, online at www.berea.edu/give or by mail to Berea College, CPO 2216, Berea KY 40404, or Mitchell High School, 416 Ledger School Rd, Bakersville, NC 28705.