Obituary for Robert "Bob" Arthur Vaughan, Sr.
Robert Arthur “Bob” Vaughan departed his earthly body on Wednesday, Jan. 26 in Asheville, N.C., surrounded by his wife and children. He was just a few weeks shy of his 88th birthday.
Bob was born on Feb. 15, 1934, in Starkville, MS, to Arthur Edgar and Minnie Lee Wiseman Vaughan, just minutes before his twin brother. His family lived in Hopkinsville, KY, before moving to Chester, SC when he was six years old. He attended Chester High School and then The Citadel, graduating with a B.S. in civil engineering in 1956. He served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
In 1959, he married the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” Anderson and enjoyed almost 63 years of marriage. They moved frequently as Bob worked on numerous bridge construction projects, and eventually settled in Florence, SC, in 1965. In 1970, his new life began, as he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He spent the next 52 years sharing the good news of the gospel with friends and strangers.
Bob’s professional life was spent as a civil engineer and bridge contractor, building bridges in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. He was General Superintendent of Inland Bridge Company and founder and CEO of Bridgebuilders, Inc., established in 1971. He completed construction projects and bridges on state roads large and small and on all interstate highways in South Carolina.
In his leisure time, Bob was a voracious reader, avid wood-worker, and lifelong sports fan. He was a master of wise cracks and corny jokes.
Bob was dedicated to the life of the Church in each community where he lived. He served for many years as a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Florence, SC, and Elder at Montreat Presbyterian Church (now Christ Community Church).
Apart from his wife and children, one of Bob’s greatest joys was his work with Yokefellows Prison Ministry from 2000 until his passing. He spent every Tuesday evening at Craggy Correctional Facility, fellowshipping, studying, and worshiping with so many men whom he considered his brothers and adopted sons.
Bob worked with countless ministries, leading a friend to comment that Bob was not only a builder of bridges by profession, but also a builder of bridges between people and Christ.
Vaughan is survived by his beloved wife of almost 63 years, Patricia “Pat” Anderson Vaughan; his children, Robert (Debbie) of Griffin, Ga., Annabelle Myers (Ernie) of Raleigh, N.C. and Lauren of Hickory, N.C. He was loved by his six grandchildren: Hannah Vaughan (Jesse Hall) of Griffin, Ga., Michael Vaughan of Carrollton, Ga., Karsten Doss and Lauren Jones of Griffin, Ga., Ernest Myers and Emerson Myers of Raleigh, N.C.; as well as his identical twin brother, Richard Vaughan of Colfax, NC.
He was preceded to Heaven by his parents and his sister, Margaret Ann Triplett.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held on Sunday, Feb. 6 at 3 pm at Graham Chapel, located in Gaither Hall on the Montreat College campus (310 Gaither Circle, Montreat, NC 28757).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations and memorials be made to: Christ Community Church (specify Well-Digging Fund, George McOmwanda, Kenya), PO Box 297, Montreat, NC 28757 or by texting CCCMONTREAT to 73256.
Bob was born on Feb. 15, 1934, in Starkville, MS, to Arthur Edgar and Minnie Lee Wiseman Vaughan, just minutes before his twin brother. His family lived in Hopkinsville, KY, before moving to Chester, SC when he was six years old. He attended Chester High School and then The Citadel, graduating with a B.S. in civil engineering in 1956. He served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
In 1959, he married the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” Anderson and enjoyed almost 63 years of marriage. They moved frequently as Bob worked on numerous bridge construction projects, and eventually settled in Florence, SC, in 1965. In 1970, his new life began, as he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He spent the next 52 years sharing the good news of the gospel with friends and strangers.
Bob’s professional life was spent as a civil engineer and bridge contractor, building bridges in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. He was General Superintendent of Inland Bridge Company and founder and CEO of Bridgebuilders, Inc., established in 1971. He completed construction projects and bridges on state roads large and small and on all interstate highways in South Carolina.
In his leisure time, Bob was a voracious reader, avid wood-worker, and lifelong sports fan. He was a master of wise cracks and corny jokes.
Bob was dedicated to the life of the Church in each community where he lived. He served for many years as a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Florence, SC, and Elder at Montreat Presbyterian Church (now Christ Community Church).
Apart from his wife and children, one of Bob’s greatest joys was his work with Yokefellows Prison Ministry from 2000 until his passing. He spent every Tuesday evening at Craggy Correctional Facility, fellowshipping, studying, and worshiping with so many men whom he considered his brothers and adopted sons.
Bob worked with countless ministries, leading a friend to comment that Bob was not only a builder of bridges by profession, but also a builder of bridges between people and Christ.
Vaughan is survived by his beloved wife of almost 63 years, Patricia “Pat” Anderson Vaughan; his children, Robert (Debbie) of Griffin, Ga., Annabelle Myers (Ernie) of Raleigh, N.C. and Lauren of Hickory, N.C. He was loved by his six grandchildren: Hannah Vaughan (Jesse Hall) of Griffin, Ga., Michael Vaughan of Carrollton, Ga., Karsten Doss and Lauren Jones of Griffin, Ga., Ernest Myers and Emerson Myers of Raleigh, N.C.; as well as his identical twin brother, Richard Vaughan of Colfax, NC.
He was preceded to Heaven by his parents and his sister, Margaret Ann Triplett.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held on Sunday, Feb. 6 at 3 pm at Graham Chapel, located in Gaither Hall on the Montreat College campus (310 Gaither Circle, Montreat, NC 28757).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations and memorials be made to: Christ Community Church (specify Well-Digging Fund, George McOmwanda, Kenya), PO Box 297, Montreat, NC 28757 or by texting CCCMONTREAT to 73256.