by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The community of Wellington mourns the death of four of its citizens after a two-car fatality that occurred Saturday evening around 6:45 p.m., nine miles north of Wellington on U.S. 81.

Carl “Ray” Waugh Jr., 77, of Wellington, was driving a 2007 Chevrolet 300 northbound on U.S. 81 with his wife Marcia Waugh, 77, of Wellington. According to the Sumner County Sheriff accident report, Waugh approached the 9-mile corner intersection and attempted to cross over onto West Road, a small paved off-road that connects to the north with 90th St., a paved road running west-east.

Timothy Baumgartner, 60, of Wellington was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze southbound with his wife Cheryl Baumgartner, 60, of Wellington at the same time.

The two vehicles collided almost in a head-on fashion in the southbound lanes of travel, the sheriff report said.

Upon arrival, Sumner Sheriff deputies found the victims deceased due to their injuries. There were no survivors.

Wellington Fire/EMS arrived shortly thereafter. Upon arrival they found two vehicles, off center in a head-on collision blocking the highway. The five personnel on the scene performed a triage of all passengers and confirmed there were four fatalities. The Fire/EMS personnel then extinguished fire in the trunk of one of the vehicles. Three of the four victims required extrication by personnel according to the Wellington Fire/EMS press release.

The Waughs were on their way to visit friends for an evening of playing cards, while the Baumgartners were returning to their home at Riverdale, after a day of Christmas shopping in Wichita.

U.S. 81 was closed for several hours as personnel cleaned up the accident. The road reopened around 10 p.m.

The accident will bring forth an unusual occurrence in Wellington where two double funeral services will take place.

Tim and Cheryl Baumgartner will have a combined funeral service at the Wellington Baptist Temple at 1022 N. Plum St. on Thursday at 10 a.m. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cornejo/Day Funeral Home.

Ray and Marcia Waugh will have a combined funeral at the First Christian Church at 123 W. 9th St. in Wellington on Friday at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., also at Cornejo/Day Funeral Home.

Both couples were venerable members of the community.

Ray Waugh was a farmer, who lived north of Wellington, while his wife Marcia was a school teacher, who taught at Lincoln and Washington Elementary. She also taught at Cowley College (Mulvane campus) and was a piano teacher up until the past year, when she and her husband retired and moved to town.

They had been married for 57 years and leave behind two children: Teri Sutton and Dean Waugh.

Tim and Cheryl Baumgartner were high school sweethearts when they married in Feb. 9, 1974. They had two daughters, Danielle Hall and Hayley Baumgartner and two sons, Nick and Nate Baumgartner.

Tim was a machinist at Spirit Aerosystems for the past 10 years while Cheryl was a store manager at Smokers Choice in Wellington.

“They were some of the sweetest and most selfless people you will ever know,” said Amber Baumgartner McCorkle, a niece to Tim and Cheryl. “As a family, we would get together and farm, cut wheat, camp, hunt. I keep thinking Tim might come through the backdoor at any moment.”

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