Lonn Macon Oswalt of Clinton, Mississippi, went to be with his Savior on December 3, 2021.

Born in 1948 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Lonn grew up in Hammond. He graduated from Mississippi College with majors in history and philosophy, and was also an avid athlete, participating in multiple sports in high school, and in college baseball and track.

While in college, he met his beloved wife Charlotte, and after they married he attended Reformed Theological Seminary. They settled in Jackson, Mississippi, where they reared their four children. He served as an elder of St. Paul Presbyterian Church, and he influenced many young people through his theologically rich Sunday School classes for the high schoolers. As the founding headmaster of St. Paul Presbyterian Day School, he guided the school faithfully for 16 years.

When the Lord opened up for him a new field of service, he moved his family to Monroe, Louisiana, and led fruitful college ministries at ULM and Louisiana Tech for many years. He served as founding pastor of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Clinton, and also enjoyed teaching Bible classes at Mt. Salus Christian School.

Lonn delighted in spending time with his family, especially at his camp in Delhi; in reading, thinking, and discussing; in opening up the Bible to others; and in sports, especially cheering on his grandchildren or his LSU Tigers. (He skillfully and mysteriously combined his interests by often bringing a book and highlighter to his children's and grandchildren's games, having a seemingly supernatural ability to never miss a play). He was a man who was easily contented with simple things, and yet his mind never stopped growing in breadth or depth.

Lonn leaves behind to mourn for him his wife of 51 years, Charlotte; his children, Ashley (Nathan) Trice, Mara (Karl) Petersen, Chandler (Ragan) Oswalt, and Calen (Will) Brantley; and his grandchildren Allie, Henry, Duncan, Tristan and Owen Trice; Rankin Petersen (Harrison) Hunter; Grant, Kate, Mary Addison, and Luke Petersen; Walker, Will, Caroline, Knox, Charlotte Reese and Mary Mills Oswalt; and Sadie Macon, Collier, Hardin, and Waverly Brantley. He is also mourned by his brothers Lynn (Jan) Oswalt and Lewis (Lisa) Oswalt, his sister Lori (Don) Hamel, and his sister- and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Francis Thompson, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He leaves behind many spiritual children as well, whom he loved, taught, coached, and mentored in a variety of ways.

He is now reunited with his parents, Macon and Lois Oswalt, with Charlotte's parents Lamar and Mary Bryant, with many beloved friends, and with two children previously known only by the Lord.

A service to honor Lonn and to worship his Lord will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 8, in the chapel of First Baptist Church Clinton. Friends and loved ones are invited to speak with the family before the service from 10 to 11 a.m., or Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 at Immanuel Presbyterian Church of Clinton. The graveside service will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Delhi Masonic Cemetery in Delhi, Louisiana.

Gifts in Lonn's memory may be made to Immanuel Presbyterian Church (1702 Old Vicksburg Rd., Clinton, MS 39056), designated Christian Education Fund. To honor his lifelong passion for Christian education, donations will be divided among the four Christian schools of his grandchildren, Greyfriars Classical Academy (Matthews, NC), Evangel Classical Christian School (Alabaster, AL), Mt. Salus Christian School (Clinton, MS), and St. Augustine School (Ridgeland, MS).

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." -- Ps. 116:15