Lonnie Eugene Franta, a Christian husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully on March 11 at the age of 82 after a short illness. A native of Baytown and Crosby, Texas, he was a 1961 graduate of Crosby High School, where he was a teammate on the Buffaloes state finalist football team. Lonnie also served in the U.S. Army with distinction from 1966–1968 in Germany.
For more than 30 years, Lonnie worked at J.M. Huber Corporation, where he earned the respect of his colleagues, built a successful career until his retirement in 1999. While he worked in the oil and gas industry, it was his life as a farmer and cattleman that truly defined him.
Passionate about farming, he spent countless hours tending to his enormous garden where he found great joy in planting and nurturing his beloved tomatoes, onions, potatoes and numerous other vegetables. It wasn’t just the work tending his garden that brought him happiness, but the opportunity to share the fruits of his labor with others. From neighbors to family, no one left the Franta household empty-handed. Whether it was fresh tomatoes or hand-picked onions, he loved seeing the smiles his vegetables brought to people’s faces. The act of sharing was more important to him than the growing itself.
Raising cattle was another of Lonnie’s great passions. He enjoyed the quiet routine of caring for his herd and he took pride in managing his pastures and bailing hay each summer. Even as a hobby, the work was meaningful to him, and he found great satisfaction in time spent on his tractor and enjoyment in tending his fields and cattle.
Proud of his Czech heritage and known for his hard work and generosity, Lonnie believed in the simple pleasures of life and the satisfaction of a good day’s work. He was someone who could always be counted on to lend a helping hand.
Lonnie is survived by his wife, Sue Ellen, who stood by his side for 62 years; his children, Darron E. Franta, and his wife Audra, of Richmond, Va; Karen S. Naismith, and her husband Brian, of Barbers Hill, Texas. His grandchildren—Gabrielle L. Franta of Richmond, Va.; Avery S. Naismith of Barbers Hill, Texas; Davis C. Franta of Richmond Va.; and Emerson M. Naismith of Barbers Hill, Texas—were great joys in his life. He is also survived by siblings; Charlie Franta and wife Bettie, Laverne Trahan, Lee Allen Franta and wife Linda, sister-in-law Carol Franta and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie John and Sidonia Marek Franta; siblings Lorine Trahan, Lula Mae Leonard, Lucille Jackson, Lillian Smith, Larry Franta and Linda Kuck.
Visitation for family and friends will be held at Baytown’s Earthman Funeral Home on Friday, March 20 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with funeral services beginning at 11 a.m. Pallbearers will be Davis Franta, Lee Allen Franta, Bryan Franta, Brian Naismith, Gary Bergeron, and Marshall Wolff.
