Robert Montgomery Vaughan
January 26, 1945 – July 13, 2025
Robert Montgomery Vaughan, 80, of Roanoke, VA, passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Newton Vaughan; his mother, Bessie Montgomery Vaughan; and sister, Betty Vaughan Benjamin.
Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Betty “Becky” Broyles Vaughan; sons, Robert F. Vaughan and his wife, Melody, of Richmond, VA, and Mark M. Vaughan and his wife, Kara, of Roanoke, VA; granddaughter, Rowan P. Vaughan of Roanoke; sister, Nancy Vaughan Buchanan of Lewisburg, WV; nieces, Beth Benjamin Doran and Gabe of New York City and Arwyn Benjamin of White Sulphur Springs, WV; and a nephew, Jason A. Dolan and Susan of Sanford, FL.
Robert attended Greenbrier Military School, where he played the trombone in the company band. He graduated from Lewisburg High School, Lewisburg, WV, in 1964. He went on to the West Virginia Institute of Technology majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Robert was drafted, while he was there, and joined the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He began in San Antonio, TX, and became a part of the U.S. Air Force Security Service. Subsequently he was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Upon discharge in 1969, he married Becky and returned to West Virginia Tech. He was impatient with that, so they moved to Roanoke, VA, in 1971. At first, he was a travel adviser for AAA and then was a roadside assistant.
His interest in woodworking grew into architectural millwork arenas. This led to working for a company that sold woodworking equipment, especially in schools. At home, he was working with and repairing this kind of equipment. Eventually, he started working in school shops to fix/maintain their equipment. He was on the road quite frequently, going to outlying schools in Virginia. He wanted to be closer to home with his young family, and he became self-employed in the early 1980s.
This allowed him to be there when his boys came home from school, and he frequently took them fishing or out on other adventures. He always enjoyed target shooting and taught both boys to be proficient on the shooting range. They were involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was Cub Master for several years and an assistant Boy Scout Leader.
At home, he was developing his woodworking interests and skills. This led to many beautiful handmade pieces of furniture and lathe-turned objects. He became a long-time member of the Blue Ridge Woodturners. His wooden turned Christmas ornaments are special. Robert gave many woodturning, machine maintenance, and repair demonstrations in many states.
From the time of his Baptism in his youth at the Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg and throughout his life, his was a personal, private continuation of those beliefs and morals.
Robert was actively involved with The Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, The Blue Ridge Woodturners, and the American Association of Woodturners. He was a contributing editor to Fine Woodworking Magazine, with a video on “How to Set Planer Knives” and “How to Tune up a Bandsaw.” Robert was an avid photographer. He especially enjoyed taking photos of broken old machines and Bluebirds, and his granddaughter! He was very active with the Old Woodworking Machine, OWWM, an online group with thousands of postings and many photos. Robert was active in and enjoyed many of their AmFest gatherings. He also enjoyed participating with the North Carolina Woodworking online group.
The family will receive friends from 12 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at Oakey’s South Chapel with a memorial service with honors to follow at 2 p.m. The Reverend Tobias Riggs of Christ The King Presbyterian Church will officiate. A Celebration of his Life will be conducted from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 4514 Kirkwood Drive in Roanoke.
The family wishes to thank Good Samaritan Hospice, who really helped them all feel cared for and assisted Bob go in comfort; his amazing daughter-in-law, Kara Vaughan, whose interventions and involvement made so much difference over these months; to Mark and Tina Shutters, who were really there for them; our neighbor, George Shumate for bringing our mail, looking after our trash can, and uncovering Bob’s scooter to get to the workshop, among other neighborly things.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Good Samaritan Hospice, 4751 Cove Road, Roanoke, VA 24017 or to Old Woodworking Machine at www.OWWM.org.
Condolences may be shared with his family by visiting www.Oakeys.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Oakey’s Funeral Service – South Chapel, Roanoke, VA (540) 989-3131.
