Richard Vaughn Hayes

1945 - 2025

Richard Vaughn Hayes

Oct 23, 1945 - Sep 17, 2025

Richard Vaughn Hayes, 79, formerly of Wilkes County, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at Arbor Acres Retirement Community in Winston-Salem.

For over five years, Vaughn battled a debilitating neurological condition called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) with determination and grit. There is no known cause or cure for PSP.

Vaughn is survived by his wife of 29 years, Frances Hubbard Hayes; two beloved daughters from Frances' prior marriage, Barbara (Nathan) West, and Emily Alexandra Mathis; grandchildren, Aubrey Caroline West, and Kenneth Paul West; sister-in-law, Nellie Hubbard Archibald (Jim); brother-in-law, Jule Hubbard (Laura); three nieces; three nephews; two great-nieces; and one great-nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Edna Lovette Hayes; and his brother, Dale Hamilton Hayes; all of the Purlear community.

Vaughn was born Oct. 23, 1945 at the Wilkes Hospital in North Wilkesboro. He graduated from West Wilkes High School in 1964; received a bachelor's degree from Appalachian State Teachers College in 1968; and an MBA from Wake Forest University in 1978.

Vaughn taught history at Wilkes Central High School in Wilkesboro for three years before beginning his 39-year career at Lowe's Companies Inc. in 1971. Lowe's was then headquartered in North Wilkesboro. He held numerous leadership positions at Lowe's, including in logistics, merchandising, merchandising support, store planning and environment. Vaughn retired as senior vice president at Lowe's in 2010.

Vaughn served on the Wilkes Regional Medical Center board during the time the local hospital became part of Wake Forest Baptist Health, now Atrium Health. He also was a member of the Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees; Wilkes Economic Development Corp. board, where he served as chairman; the Wilkes Family YMCA board; and other boards. He was a member of the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club.

Vaughn was an active supporter of his alma maters, including serving on the Julia and Blake Lovette Memorial Scholarship Committee at West Wilkes High and the 1964 West High class reunion committee.

He served on the ASU Foundation board starting in 2002, including as chair 2013-15. Vaughn was president of the Alumni Council from 1999-2001 and was on the Appalachian Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors, Yosef Club Advisory Board and College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council. He was active with the 1899 Legacy Giving Society and Wilkes Alumni Chapter. Vaughn received the ASU Alumni Association's Outstanding Service Award. As the first person in his family to attend college, Vaughn was passionate about helping others in Wilkes attain a college degree. He established a scholarship to ASU for first generation college students from Wilkes.

Vaughn was involved in alumni affairs at the Wake Forest School of Business in the 1980s and received the Judson D. DeRamus Distinguished Alumni Award from the WFU School of Business in 1985. He served on the WFU School of Business Board of Visitors until 2010.

Vaughn was on the vestry at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Wilkesboro while a member there. Vaughn and Frances joined the First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro in 2010, where he served on the finance committee.

Vaughn was an avid athlete all his life, beginning as a young baseball player for his community and continuing into high school, where he excelled at basketball, baseball and football. As an adult, Vaughn played recreational tennis, racquetball, softball and participated in competitive area runs. He coached youth football and YMCA youth basketball teams.

The Rev. Bert Young, pastor of First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, presided over a private funeral service at Salem Funerals and Cremations in Winston-Salem on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Barbara West shared a eulogy that she and her sister, Emily Mathis, prepared. Larry Stone, former president and chief operating officer of Lowe's, also spoke at the funeral. It was followed by a private burial at Arbor Grove Methodist Church in Purlear, with Young presiding.

The family would like to thank the dedicated staff of Arbor Acres and Trellis Hospice for their loving care and support for Vaughn and his family.

Memorials may be made to Cure PS P, 325 Hudson Street, Fourth Floor, NYC, New York, or to the Hayes Appalachian Access Scholarship Endowment at ASU Foundation Inc., Advancement Services, P.O. Box 32014, Boone, N.C., 28608.

Salem Funeral & Cremation Service

120 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101