Ronald R. Baynton

Grand Marais

Ronald Richard Baynton, age 90, of Gulfport Mississippi and formerly of Grand Marais, died under the loving care of hospice, and the staff of the Armed Services Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi on February 20, 2025. He was born on November 17, 1934 in Traverse City, Michigan to Ronald W. and Crystal (Wahl) Baynton. Ron grew up in several towns in Michigan, and after WWII the family moved to Grand Marais, where his father operated a charter fishing business.

Ron joined the U.S. Navy at seventeen and dedicated twenty-eight years serving our country as a Hospital Corpsman. His career had him stationed at many bases and naval ships: Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois, Corpsman Basic Schools in Portsmouth, VA, and in Camp Lejeune in NC, the Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, The U.S.S. Wisconsin in Europe, U.S. Cadmus at Norfolk, VA, Advanced Hospital Corpsman school in San Diego, CA, The U.S.S. Fiske, and Naval Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island.

During the Vietnam War he served on the U.S.S. Peacock and the U.S.S. Albatross out of Sasebo, Japan, later the U.S.S. Enterprise out of Alameda, CA. Upon his retirement, he transferred to the Naval Reserve Center in Little Rock, Arkansas with the rank of Chief Hospital Corpsman.

His greatest joy while serving was when he was home ported in Sasebo, Japan where he met Emiko Nakagawa. They fell in love and corresponded for several years, and when Ron was stationed in Little Rock he took leave and returned to Japan. He and Emiko were married at the U.S. Consulate on November 18, 1968. Emiko was a loving and supportive Navy wife throughout the rest of Ron's career and retirement.

Ron was a man of many interests, he earned his associates degree at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, CA, became a real estate broker for Merrill Lynch, and worked as a pharmacy tech for Pharmacy Corp, of America. Ron retired in his 70's and returned to Grand Marais before deciding to move to the Military Retirement Home in Gulfport.

Ron loved music and enjoyed playing the mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, and the mountain dulcimer which he crafted by hand. He also loved gardening, hunting, and fishing.

Ron is survived by his sisters, Patricia Maguire of Wisconsin, and Sheila (Jim) Jarrell of Prudenville, MI, and numerous nieces and nephews. Ron's brother Leonard recently passed away on April 26. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, wife Emiko, brothers Robert and Gerald, and Sister Rita Baynton Tellier

Graveside service will be held Tuesday, June 3, at 1:00 p.m. Military honors will be rendered at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Grand Marais.