Lonnie Bateman Obituary

We send our prayers and deepest sympathy to Aleda and the entire Bateman family at the passing of Lonnie. I count it a privilege to have known Lonnie as a friend. As we went our separate ways after graduating from high school, I kind of lost contact with Lonnie. However several years ago we renewed our friendship as Lonnie was instrumental in getting our graduating class together for class reunions. Lonnie took it upon himself to spearhead our class reunions. He kept in contact with as many of our classmates as possible. If you wanted to know something about one of our class members, Lonnie could probably tell you.
Over the past few years Lonnie and I often visited by phone and shared a lot of memories. Lonnie loved his family and and just about every time we talked he would talk about his family whom he dearly loved. We would often talk about the Lord and church. Lonnie's death did not catch him unprepared. In our last conversation just a few weeks ago one of the last things Lonnie told me was that he was prepared to go to heaven.
I think every time we talked, Lonnie would say, "Call me any time. I would be glad to talk with you." I will have to wait until heaven to talk with him again, but I expect to continue our conversations where there will never again be sickness, death or separation.
"May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

James and Betty Pike