David Allen Vaughn's Obituary
David Allen Vaughn
September 8, 1934 – November 11, 2025
Age 91
David Allen Vaughn, 91, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2025.
Dave was born in Altoona, PA and was the 5th of 5 children. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University in 1956. He was the first of his family to graduate from college and he remained a loyal and enthusiastic Villanova fan throughout his life. Early on, as an electrical engineer, he worked on helicopters, going to the top of Mount Washington to test rotary blades in icy conditions. Dave contributed to several aerospace projects, including Skylab. In mid-career, he turned his expertise toward train systems, specializing in braking mechanisms and subway door operations. Later, at Fort Belvoir, he led and mentored teams developing power generators for the U.S. Army. Dave took great pride in managing a group that designed generators capable of providing power to NATO’s allied forces, and he traveled to Europe to attend NATO conferences focused on military power systems.
He was an electrical engineer for his entire career and retired from government service in September 1996.
In 1956, Dave married his beloved wife, Margo, and together they raised seven children: Honore Buckley (Mark) of Anchorage, AK; Nickie Wilson (Del) of Colorado Springs, CO; David Vaughn Jr. (Janet) of Alton, NH; Greg Vaughn (Peg) of Springfield, VA; Marcy Kmetz (Paul) of Rehoboth Beach, DE; Laura Dumouchelle (Tom) of Ashburn, VA; and Karen Cornfeld (Aaron) of Ashburn, VA. He was a proud grandfather to 17 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
After Margo’s passing in 2005, Dave was blessed to find love and companionship again and married Donna Poff in 2009. They shared many happy years together until Dave’s passing.
From his teenage years onward, Dave spent every summer in Dewey Beach, Delaware. As a young adult, he worked as a jeep driver on the beach. He was one of the town’s first elected commissioners and then re-elected. During his tenure, he introduced Dewey Beach’s parking permit system, which helped offset municipal expenses without the need for a property tax.
In 1981, he undertook a major renovation of his Dewey Beach home—lifting the original ground-floor cottage to create a second story, then designing and building a new first floor beneath it. With the help of his children, he restored and modernized the original cottage, and the family continues to cherish that home today.
Dave’s favorite pastimes included playing bridge and golf. He earned many silver bridge points and often attended tournaments during his travels. He also enjoyed spending winters in Florida, where he split his time between the golf course and the bridge table.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margo, his parents Mary and Verner Vaughn, and his siblings Vernie Ransing, Marie McAleer, Don Vaughn and Irene Corey.
Dave will be remembered for his sound guidance, sense of humor, and generosity, and he loved nothing more than gathering with family and friends. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and the family he cherished.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on December 19, 2025, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, DE . Entombment will immediately follow Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 32112 Vines Creek Rd., Dagsboro, DE 19939
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Casa San Francisco, P.O. Box 38, Milton, DE, 19968, an organization dedicated to helping those in need.
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