Ronald Irving Vaughan, age 86 passed away suddenly from a heart attack on April 18 at his home in Newbury, Vt.  He was born March 3, 1935, at home on the farm in East Thetford, Vt. son of Robert Clifton Vaughan and Lillian (Hill) Vaughan.

Ron was a true Vermonter with deep roots in his beloved state, community, and family.

His ancestry traces back to three Vaughan brothers who fought at the Battle of Bennington in 1777. The continuous lineage of Vermont Vaughan families has remained unbroken down through the years reaching to our present family of today.  The bonds are bold, benevolent, and beautiful.

Ron's early years of growing up on the farm shaped his sterling character, easy-going, and self- reliant personality. Doing barn chores beginning at age five, learning to steer a hay truck before he could reach the pedals, lifting thousands of grain bags and hay bales taught him lessons in perseverance and courage that kept him grounded throughout his whole life. His motto was " You have to earn your own way" Consequences were part of daily life- if you forgot to feed the calf it might get sick and not make it. Consequences of weather are beyond any farmer's control- yet it determines the work schedule for the day- maybe the week. So, he learned to "just deal with it" and "go with the flow".

Ron went to one room schoolhouses in Thetford and then to Thetford Academy graduating in 1954, always doing farm work before and after school. He played varsity basketball and baseball all four years and loved being with his classmates. At age sixteen, his first job of the day was to drive the truck around Thetford to pick up canned milk from about a dozen small farms before he went to school. He liked to tell about carrying two cans at a time, each weighing a hundred pounds- if they were full - and dripping wet from the cooler. Not fun in the winter!  His physical strength and stamina were enormous, matched only by his innate mental capacity.  Self-taught is a term that accurately would describe Ron. He could always figure it out. The technology we have today was non-existent for him.  He would go to the hardware store, get what he needed, ask questions, then go home and do it until he got it right.

He was always curious about many things and loved a new adventure.  Soon after high school, he and a classmate, Bill Joiner, drove across the country in Ron's 1956 Chevy; traveling part way on the old Route 66. Snow was deep when they left Vermont and still deep-much to his surprise- when they returned a month later in April. But in between, they had enjoyed clear skies and sunny days across the vast American landscape.

Before long, the Army came calling and he was drafted in 1958, spending two years in Germany. He loved his main job in the message center where he was charged with de-coding intelligence communications and delivering them to his superior officers. But the messages usually came in the middle of the night which he didn't especially like, but again, working even when sleep deprived, was a habit he had formed many years prior.

And then, true to form, his adventurous spirit took over. He bought a car and explored Europe with his new buddies. They sampled spicy new food in Spain, toured the beer halls during Germany's Octoberfest, gazed at castles on the Rhine, almost capsized crossing the English Chanel, danced their way through Denmark, and flirted with the girls in France!  What a blast!

After his initial discharge, he was called up again during the Berlin crisis in 1961. By that time, the new barn at the farm was well underway: over 300 feet long -the longest barn in

New England at the time. Plus, plans were laid for the formation of the farm partnership with his Dad and three brothers. But Ron had to leave in the fall, being stationed at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. But not before another adventure- this time, romantic. It was that summer that he met his future wife, Judy. By then, the bulk tanks, by law, had come on to many farms and Vaughan Farms switched to a small bulk tank milk truck to run a side business of picking up milk from many farms further afield from Thetford; delivering to creameries in Lyme, Bradford, Chelsea, and Springfield.  One of the farms on his route was the Smith farm in South Newbury.  Ron met Judy in the milk-house, and it was love at first sight! The family joke after their four- year long courtship was that "She married the milkman!"  They were married in 1965 just as soon as Judy finished college at UVM, and they first lived in the little brown house on Pavillion Road. In 1968, Ron began to build their new home up on the hill near the barn. They moved in 1970, but it took him two more years to finish it, working nights and on his one day off- every other Sunday. In 1980, he built their camp on Halls Lake with the help of his three young sons. Later, he built another house for the farm to replace the little brown house that had been destroyed by fire.  Once again, he employed his ability to accomplish a task even without any formal training. And finally, after retiring from farming, he still kept his building skills intact by renovating the Castle in Newbury. Hospitality was always important to Ron.  Wherever he was living, he made visitors feel at home. His greetings always began with a big smile, twinkling eyes and warm words. His generosity seemed endless, as he shared small things like vegetables from his garden and bigger things including monetary gifts. But his greatest gift was his gift of time. He always made time to help you out or to just listen and talk.

The thrill of seeking out new places was never far from his horizon. So, he persuaded Judy to travel.  They made several trips to Canada, Florida, Bermuda, the Caribbean, New Orleans, California, all of New England and Utah, Wyoming and Yellowstone.

His family was a source of constant delight, whether working or playing together, he relished time spent with his parents, siblings, children. grandchildren and great grandchildren. He held us together with his huge hands that could work all day fixing fence - then come home at night and gently caress a crying baby to sleep. Held us together with his big "heart of gold" that could lift you up with just one word or small act of kindness. Held us together with his "love of life spirit" that prevailed everyday -no matter what.

Ron is survived by Judith, his wife of fifty-five years, three sons; Stephen of So. Newbury, Vt. Darren and his wife Nancy of East Thetford, Vt. Brian and his wife Amy, St. George, Vt. Also, his eight grandchildren; Bradley Vaughan, Worcester, Vt., Megan Vaughan, So. Newbury, Vt. and Jack Vaughan and his wife, Meryll, So. Newbury, Vt. Levi, Lily, and Brennan all of East Thetford, Vt. Logan and Lauren Vaughan, St. George, Vt. Two great-grandsons; Calvin and Riley Vaughan of Williamstown and Worcester, Vt.  He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Robert Vaughan and Roger Vaughan and his sisters Shirley Fortier and Diane Eaton. He is survived by his sister Janice Mousley and brother Russell Vaughan and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A military graveside service will be held on Friday, May 7 at noon at the West Newbury Cemetery.  All are welcome. and encouraged to bring lawn chairs and umbrellas if desired.  For those who wish, donations in Ron's memory may be made to Thetford Academy Development Office, Thetford, VT 05074 or to the West Newbury Congregational Church music fund, in care of Susan Goodell, treas. 1664 Moore Hill Rd., Newbury, VT 05051.