Donald "Don" Roger Vaughn
Donald Roger “Don” Vaughn, 77, of Elliston, VA, passed away on Monday, April 8, 2024, at his home. He was born on November 29, 1946, in Altoona, PA. Don’s early years were spent with his grandparents in Lake Hamilton, FL. And then in Winter Haven, Florida where he was raised through the Helping Hand’s Children’s Home. On August 17, 1966, Don enlisted in the United States Army and was a member of the 82nd Airborne. After his service to the country, Don achieved the rank of Private First Class. Later he would move to Virginia to work for Volvo Trucks of North America in Dublin, VA. He performed various roles while employed at Volvo including quality control, cab electrical, and the production line to name a few. He retired from Volvo after over thirty years of service. In his free time, Don played league baseball, helped with organizing Volvo Employee Golf Outings, and was a member of the Dealer Awareness (Zero Bucket) team. He also was a DJ at the local Marriott hotel where he used his talent and love of music to spin tunes to bring joy to people’s faces. Don was also devoutly involved with the Virginia Tech Athletics Department for over thirty years. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed the excitement and comradery of college sports. While working with VT, he became a Game Day Operations Coordinator for various sporting events on campus. His work at VT promoted his passion for sports, especially track and field, men’s basketball, and, of course, Hokie football.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. R.W. Rodgers; infant grandson, Robert Edward Geiger; and mother-in-law, Marie Carol Hurt McLawhorn.
Don is survived by his wife, Nancy Carol Hurt Vaughn; son, Robert Tarvin and wife, Sabrina; daughters, Lindsey Vaughn, and Tiffani Robbyn Vaughn; grandchildren, Robby Alouris Geiger and her husband, Jackie Edward, Ryan Adam Tarvin and his wife, Leia King, Raiden Tarvin, Caeden Jae Finley, and Isabella Grace Finley; great-grandchildren, Kyle Jacob Geiger and Alouris Peyton Geiger; stepchildren, Charles Lester Mills, Kyle Brandon Mills, and Henry L. Mills and his wife, Regina; step-grandchildren, Seraphina A. Mills, Dominik O. Mills, and Maximilian E. Mills; brothers-in-law, William Terrill Hurt, III and wife, Yvonne, and Robert Lester Hurt and wife, Bobbie-Jo; and a host of nieces and nephews also survive.
A funeral service to celebrate Don’s life will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, VA with Minister Robert Hurt officiating. Burial will be held privately with his family at the Hampton Memorial Gardens in Hampton, VA. For those unable to attend, the funeral service for Don will be livestreamed below this obituary notice.
Friends may visit with the family from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024, at the funeral home.
The family asks that any floral donations be white and dark purple to match he and Nancy’s wedding colors, or VT Hokie orange and maroon.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Virginia Tech Athletics Department, including men’s basketball, track and field, or football, in honor of Don.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.
