Edgar Vaughan III

Edgar Vaughan, III, age 91, passed away on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at Norton Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville, KY. Edgar was born on April 22, 1931, in Shelbyville, KY.

In addition to his parents, Edgar Vaughan, Jr. and Hazel Gibson Vaughan, he was preceded in death by his brother Richard Vaughan, his sister Ann Bullock, his first wife of 28 years, Patricia Bass Vaughan, his second wife of 37 years, Bette Blakemore Vaughan, and his stepson Ken Ryon. He is survived by his four sons and their wives: Edgar (Rosemary) Vaughan of Dallas, GA; Mark (Donna) Vaughan of La Mirada, CA; David (Julia) Vaughan of Louisville,KY; Doug (Ruth Ann) Vaughan of Louisville, KY; his stepdaughter-in-law, Nancy Ryon of Seminole, FL; his sister Jane (Jim) Walters of Middletown, KY; his brother-in-law, Richard Blakemore of Grundy, VA; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

From oldest to youngest, Edgar's grandchildren and spouses: Ryan Vaughan, Scott Vaughan, Anna (Zach) Luginbill, Nathan (Andrea) Vaughan, Rachel (Parker) Young, Leanna (Dustin) Allen, Sarah Vaughan, Elizabeth (Alex) Strickland, Margaret (Caleb) Waters, Matthew (Holly) Vaughan, Jeremiah (Malia) Vaughan, and Farren Vaughan. Edgar's great-grandchildren: Addysen Vaughan, Andrew Allen, Luke Allen, Joshua Strickland, Lewis Luginbill, Elyse Allen, Julian Vaughan, Walker Young, Clara Strickland, Everett Waters, Graham Luginbill, and Sylvie Young.

An Eagle Scout, Edgar graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1949, and the University of Louisville in 1953 and was commissioned in the Navy. He married his first wife Patsy in 1954, and they were stationed together in Brooklyn, NY; Virginia Beach, VA; France; and Malta. He served aboard the USS Currier (DE-700), USS Laning (DE-159), and USS Springfield (CLG-7), and on the US Sixth Fleet Staff. He returned to Shelbyville in June 1964 and began working for the Kentucky Department of Education while continuing service in the Naval Reserve before retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1975. Edgar and Patsy remained married until her death in 1983. That same year, he married Bette until her death in 2021.

While at the Department of Education, Edgar helped establish the Shelby County Vocational School and later worked for the Kentucky Department of Veteran Affairs accrediting veteran programs across the state. He was elected to the Shelby County Board of Education in 1989 and served as Vice-Chairman and Chairman during his seven-year tenure. In 1995, he retired from the KY Department of Education and moved to Louisville.

A longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Shelbyville, he was an Elder, Sunday School teacher, and sang in the church choir. After moving to Louisville, he became very involved at Springdale Presbyterian Church leading a Bible study and singing in the church choir. Over the years, he volunteered with church youth ministries, refugee ministries, Meals on Wheels, Prison Ministry Fellowship, and US Naval Academy admissions.

The family will receive friends from 10am to 12:30pm on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Shannon Funeral Services in Shelbyville. A memorial service will follow from 1 to 2pm. A graveside service and burial will be held at Grove Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville at 2:30pm.

Edgar was known to his family as someone who was always clipping newspaper articles, writing poems, or giving Bibles to those who crossed his path. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Samaritan's Purse to provide a Bible or other Gospel literature to believers in countries like Bolivia, Kenya, and Niger who are yearning for spiritual nourishment: https://sampur.se/3za7pEo