Judge Richard R. Baumgartner died at home on January 23, 2018, at the age of 70 years. Judge was a veteran of the US Navy serving from 1967 to 1970 aboard two carrier cruises to Vietnam. He graduated from East Tennessee State University and received his law degree from UT College of Law in 1977. He was a candidate for Circuit Court Judge in 1990, but did not prevail. He was appointed Criminal Court Judge in 1992, elected in 1994 to fill the unexpired term, re-elected in 1998, and again in 2006. In two of the races he was unopposed. He served on the board of the Joy of Music School, the American Red Cross, Leadership Knoxville, and Kids Voting Tennessee. After leaving the bench he volunteered with Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. He was an accomplished amateur pianist and a devoted gardener who took great pleasure in farming his land along the French Broad River and having his grandchildren help him till the garden and pick the vegetables. He is survived by Vicki Williams Baumgartner, his daughter Rachel and her husband Will Blackstock, and precious grandchildren Richard and Madelyn.