Howard Edward Vaughan

Howard Edward Vaughan, Jr., of Naples, Florida, passed away September 5, 2015 at Kansas City Hospice House surrounded by his family. Howard was born on June 21, 1921 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Howard and Helen Vaughan. Howard grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and attended Ruhl-Hartman High School. Howard was a member of the greatest generation, having served in World War II as a pilot in the US Army Air Corps. He piloted a B-26 on more than 70 bombing missions over Europe including several on D-Day. He was a recipient of several Decorations and Citations including the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal, 11 Oak Leaf Clusters and a Europe-Africa-Middle East Ribbon with 2 Stars. After his tour of duty in Europe, he was a flight instructor for the A-26 at the Marianna Army Air Field in Marianna, Florida.

He married his high school sweetheart, Frances Raw, in 1944. They raised their three daughters in Leawood, Kansas, home to several generations of family. Nieces and nephews still enjoy telling stories about growing up with their "Uncle Bark".

After serving his country, Howard continued flying as a commercial pilot for North American Airlines before co-founding two home construction companies, Consolidated Home Builders & The Howard Company and developing four Taco Via restaurants in Blue Springs and Independence, Missouri. He and Frances retired to Naples, Florida in 1994.

Howard was a college basketball fan and an avid baseball fan, cheering for the Kansas City A's and the Kansas City Royals. He enjoyed golfing, get-aways to Bella Vista, Arkansas, and family trips to Vail, Colorado. Three family trips that had special significance were visits to Pearl Harbor, the D-Day Museum in New Orleans and the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. Those trips were important to him so all his family understood the sacrifice that so many made. Howard was a minister and pastor for the RLDS Church Prairie Village Congregation.

Howard is survived by his wife, Frances; daughters Jill (Bob) Moore, Gloria Pinkerton, and Marcia (Chris) Bigelow; grandchildren Kelley (Greg) Manning, Craig (Joy) Moore, Christopher (Lelaine) Bigelow, Matthew Bigelow, Justin (Tiffany) Pinkerton, and Jared Pinkerton; great-grandchildren Rebecca, Mikey, Max and AJ Moore, Kylee, Taylor, Brady and Jordie Pinkerton, Jacob and Joshua Manning, and Jack Bigelow; sister-in-law Gloria Giles; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life honoring Howard will be held at The Community of Christ Church, 7842 Mission Road in Prairie Village, Kansas, on Wednesday, September 9th at 11:00 AM. The family will receive visitors beginning at 10:00. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to either Outreach International www.outreach-international.org or Kansas City Hospice House www.kchospice.org