Russell E. Vaughn

CHARLESTON, IL – Russell E. Vaughn, age 75 of Charleston, Illinois, walked on from this life on March 9, 2020 while at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.  A visitation in celebration of his life is planned for this evening, Thursday, March 12, 2020 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:45 p.m.  The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 921 Madison Avenue in Charleston with Father Braden Maher officiating.  Inurnment will be private at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following charities: Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592; St. Vincent DePaul, the Coalition for People in Need, or the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.  Gifts may be left at the visitation or funeral mass, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL  61920.

Russ was born on May 19, 1945, son of Richard Lee and Nellie (Gillespie) Vaughn, and grew up in Paris, Illinois.  He grew up swimming, fishing, and hunting along the Twin Lakes and in the surrounding woodlands of his beloved home town.  He lived an eclectic life full of curiosity, travel and wonder.  As a child he was an Eagle Scout and achieved Order of the Arrow.  In 1968 he was drafted into the Air Force and became a member of the Strategic Air Command Elite Guard, including civic and military memorial service on the infamous 12-person ceremonial silent drill team, which traveled the country performing at public events and military funerals, including a cameo on the Johnny Carson Show.  In 1969 he was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.  He returned to complete a Bachelor of Arts at Eastern Illinois University, completed realtor training at Bradley University – Peoria, and later went on to complete professional training at Missouri Auction School.  He met and married the love of his life in 1971, his wife of 47 years, Judith Ann Larkin Vaughn.  The two went on to live off the coast of Naples, Italy in Formia, for 5 beautiful years.  They traveled by motorcycle, boat and train across Europe and Northern Africa in awe of this wide world, side-by-side.  When they returned to the United States, they became parents to two beloved daughters, Rachel and Rebecca.  Given his enthusiasm for street markets, art, antiques and collectibles, Russ formed his own business, Vaughn Auction House & Appraisals, and traveled the Midwest for 25 + years, auctioneering and lending his chant to countless volunteer fundraisers and events.  He went on to establish his second business, Vaughn Victorian Apartments and Houses in 1995.  Russ was someone with both roots and wings; roots in his community, especially his beloved church and volunteer community (Coalition for People in Need, We Care and St. Vincent DePaul); and wings that permitted him to travel and explore the world as a young man.  He was an avid story-teller, antiquer and art collector; loved geology, spelunking and archaeology, fishing and wild foraging.  He has walked on, but is survived in life by his wife Judi; daughters Rachel (of Los Angeles, California and Milan, Italy) and Rebecca (of Davis, California); his son, Willie Supasakulwat (Rotary Youth Exchange, Nong Khai, Thailand); his sons-in-law, Alessandro Cornelli (Milan and Los Angeles) and Keith Taylor (Davis); his granddaughter, Joy; his brothers Ronald and wife Renee (Tampa, Florida) and Rick (Buffalo, New York); and many nieces and nephews.

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