John Vaughan

John Raymond Vaughan, 82, of Dover passed away Wednesday, March 12, in Amberwood Manor at New Philadelphia after a long illness. He was born on March 25, 1942, at Davenport, Iowa, a son of the late Joseph Raymond and Genevieve Marguerite Vaughan.

An Air Force veteran, John was stationed at Duluth, Minn., and was an air policeman. After his service, he worked for Joanna-Western Shades in Ohio and retired from CHF selling window treatments. When he moved to Cape Coral, Fla., he was employed by Express Blinds. He had been a member of the North Canton Jaycees and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Philadelphia.

In an essay John wrote about his dad, whose health was failing, he admired many traits that he himself had developed.

“As we grew older we all began to appreciate dad’s real strengths and virtues. His selfless devotion to his wife and children, never concerned about his own pursuits and pleasure, he made time for us and relished in all our accomplishments.”

John told of watching a movie with our dad, “How Deep is My Valley,” in which the coal miner dad is killed. The last words of his son are ‘‘Men like my father never die.”

“Men of that caliber - the real heroes of life - have their memory perpetuated by family, children and people who loved them,” John wrote. “Theirs are lives of virtue and example, and promise of eternal life.”

John could have been writing that about himself.

On Aug. 19, 1969, John married the former Joyce Elaine Mathias, with whom he shared 56 years of marriage. They loved to travel, and spent a week in Madrid, Spain, courtesy of his boss, and enjoyed Las Vegas, and both the East and West coasts. John had a witty sense of humor – like his dad, was strong in his faith, an excellent businessman and a talented builder who helped anyone in need.

As the oldest of nine brothers, he and his wife Joyce loved to treat the younger brothers and their children to trips to Geauga Lake, Sea World and the circus. John was a family man, and adored his four daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was an avid golfer - better than the Vaughan competition - and was the caddy-master at Union Country Club during high school.

His survivors include his wife, Joyce; daughters, Tamera (Dan) Day and their son Jesse, Lori (Scott) McGregor and their daughter Sarah McGregor and great-grandchildren Adelynn and Kaiden McGregor, and Jonathan McGregor, and great-grandson Kensington; daughter Lisa Lahmers and her son Mathias Lahmers, and daughter Robin Mathias and granddaughter Hope Vaughan, and her son Jordan Baldwin and great-grandson Miles Dillon, son of the late Brer Mathias and her fiancé Matt Dillon; brothers Jim (Jeanne) Vaughan, Pat (Donna) Vaughan, David (Marci) Vaughan, Mike (Kathy) Vaughan, Danny (Marcia) Vaughan and Mark (Jennifer) Vaughan and their daughter, Hope Vaughan; sisters Annette Vaughan, Katherine (Tim) Ellwood and Jeannie (David) DiDonato; sister-in-law Brenda Vaughan, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, Maureen (Gary) Hess and Rita (Bob) Miller, and brothers Joey and Tommy Vaughan.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in New Philadelphia. Services will be private. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Assn.

The family would like to thank the staff of Amberwood Manor and Ohio Hospice in New Philadelphia.

“I fought the good fight, I finished the race, and I kept the faith.”