Robert Richard (Dick) Vaughan Jr, CW3, USAR, Retired
November 22, 1937 - March 16, 2024
Robert Richard (Dick) Vaughan Jr. was born at home on November 22, 1937 on a small farm near Sikeston, Missouri.  He was very proud of his Sikeston roots and always kept Sikeston close to his heart.  As a young man, he was interested in music, baseball, literature, aviation and debate and as a high school student, he played the French horn in the marching band, and won the state championship for extemporaneous speaking… a skill which would serve him well for the rest of his life.  At the age of eight, he became a lifelong Alabama Crimson Tide football fan whom he remained passionate about and loyal to until the very end.

He joined the Army at the age of 18 and served all over the world including three tours in Vietnam.  His passion for aviation led him to the air where he became a helicopter pilot and achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. His exploits earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal for valor, the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.  During much of his 20 year military career, he was an instructor in aviation maintenance programs and his last active duty assignment was as Chief of the Aviation Maintenance Officers' course at Ft Eustis, Virginia.

Upon his retirement, Dick worked as a news-writer and on-air television talent, as a newspaper columnist and subsequently owned a small newspaper in Sikeston, Missouri, but Dick was best known as a novelist which he had begun during his time in the service.
He published his first book at the age of 19, launching what would become one of the most remarkable literary careers of our time.  Over the next 67 years, Dick authored more than 400 books in nearly every genre.  His works have been honored with places on the New York Times bestseller list eight times, and he was awarded the Spur Award, the Porgie Award for Best Paperback Original, the Western Fictioneers Lifetime Achievement Award, the Readwest President's Award for Excellence in Western Fiction, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Will Rogers Medallion Awards.  He was a proud member of the American Writers Hall of Fame and a Pulitzer Prize nominee, reflecting his extraordinary contributions to the field of literature.

In the Spring of 1975, he met the love of his life, Ruth Spengeman, and after a four-week courtship, they married and were inseparable for the next 49 years.  They were passionate about their children's and grandchildren activities and particularly enjoyed Joe's track and cross country, Tom's basketball and Ryan's basketball and track.  They were active in St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sikeston before eventually moving to Gulf Shores, Alabama where Dick and Ruth were able to inspire others by hosting writer's workshops at their beach house.  They were a team in every way, and continued to work together on his novels until the very end.  Dick loved classical music and opera, and of course, his Jack Russell Terriers, the late Charley's I and II, and his current Jack Russell, Charley III.

Dick is survived by his wife, Ruth, his Jack Russell Terrier, Charley III, his brother Philip (Sonjia) Vaughan, and his 4 kids, 5 grandkids and 2 great-grandkids.  He's the son of the late Robert Richard Vaughan Sr, and the late Aline Vaughan, of Sikeston, Missouri.  He was also predeceased by his beloved brother Tommy Vaughan.

Services:  A roadside service will be held privately at National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dick's name to Jefferson Barracks Wreaths Across America or St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, MO .  As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.