Samuel "Dick" Richard Vaughan

Samuel Richard “Dick” Vaughan, 77, of Summerville, husband of Gale Canaday Vaughan, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at his residence.

A Graveside Memorial Service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Harleyville Cemetery with Rev. Ricky Smith officiating.  The family will receive friends an hour before the service in the cemetery.

Dick was born on October 15, 1945, in St. George, a son of the late Bruce Keels and Bessie Thompson Vaughan.  He was a 1963 graduate of St. George High School, graduate of Clemson University and received his master’s degree from Emory University.  Dick served in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot and was interned as Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on December 18, 1971, and was held until his release on March 28, 1973. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and the Prisoner of War Medals. After his retirement from the US Air Force in 1991, he was a schoolteacher at Woodland High School. He was predeceased by a son, Jason Richard Vaughan, brothers, Bruce Vaughan and Stephen T. Vaughan

Surviving is his wife, Gale Canaday Vaughan, Summerville; a daughter, Lara (Gordon) Bain, Round O; grandchildren, Jessica Ashley, Frank Rodia, Brittany Rodia and Michael Rodia; great-grandchildren, Dominic Martinez and Issac Martinez; a brother, Anthony “Tony” Vaughan; and a sister, Robin Rene Hanna.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the USO, Donate | USO.org.

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