Actually, it was a memorial service. Russ Vaughn was 88 years old when his body just gave out on him. It had been well used. He was a retired Army Aviator, Vietnam veteran, husband of 63 years, father of three good men, active Church member and Gideon. I met him shortly after my own father died 19 years ago and he became a mentor and friend. We played golf a few times, seemingly always in the rain, but mostly we served together in Church. We served on lots of committees and as I assumed leadership roles, he was always there to support me and help me. He never turned from something that needed to be done. He taught first and second grade Sunday School for 20 years. There are literally hundreds of now young, and some not so young, adults he influenced in their Christian walk. He was widely known throughout the area and the chapel was overflowing yesterday.
Eight years ago he invited me to become a Gideon. He had served as a local and state officer for the Gideons International for years. He went to Ghana on a scripture distribution when he was 78, and had been on others prior to that. He encouraged me to become a Gideon Speaker and officer. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. His only fault in my eyes was that he was a Bama fan. Not an obnoxious one, but a Bama fan none the less. His urn had a mullet A on it yesterday.
To be honest it still hasn’t sunk in that he won’t be there on Sunday morning in the first pew behind the aisle on the left side. He has always been there since we joined the Church. And he won’t be there for my 20+ year old girls to give him a hug, to talk to me about whatever is going on, or to good naturedly flirt with my wife. This is the third funeral of Churchmen I was close to in the last six months. I think there will be another within the next month as another friend’s health is failing. They were all in their 80s and they all affected me personally and the Church as well. This one hurt the worst. The world is a lesser place but heaven gained an angel. God Speed Russ.
