Lovell Lee Raffignone, 89, of Elrod passed away at 4:20am Thursday, January 7, 1926 at the Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. He was born near Milan on March 17, 1926 the son of Ernest and Marie Rupp Raffignone and spent his entire life in the Elrod community. He was married to Mary Johnson on June 24 1950 and she preceded him in death on February 22, 2005. Survivors include one son Rev. Ron (Denise) Raffignone of Waynetown; one daughter Kathy (Doug) Beam of Moores Hill; three grandchildren Lori Sullivan of Elrod, Mandy Raffignone of Waynetown, and Jeremy Stevens of Birmingham, Michigan; three great-grandchildren, and one step-great-grandson; one brother Lowell (Kay) Raffignone of Dillsboro. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his sister Erma Eaglin, and his grandson Ryan Craig. Mr. Raffignone was a 1944 graduate of Versailles High School. He was an Army veteran of WWII having served as a mechanic with the 11th Airborne Division and was in the battle of Luzon. He received marksman status with a rifle, received the parachutist badge, two overseas service bars, Asiatic Pacific Theatre ribbon with one bronze star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal-Japan. Mr. Raffignone was a farmer and had owned and operated a John Deere dealership in Elrod beginning in 1958 and took up full time farming in 1965. He was named the Ripley County Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1999. Even at age 89 he still farmed his land and was planning his spring planting for this year. Lovell Lee was a member of the Versailles American Legion and was a 70 year member of the Washington Baptist Church at Elrod. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 11th at 11am at the Washington Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Dempsey officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military graveside rites by the Versailles American Legion. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4pm to 7pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles and from 10am until time of services Monday at the church. Memorials may be given to the Washington Cemetery in care of the funeral home.