Obituary of Walter "Wally" L. Vaughn

September 3, 1944 – January 23, 2019

Walter “Wally” L. Vaughn.  Age 74 of Wyandotte.

Beloved husband of Mary Jane for 53 years.  Loving father of Jacqueline (Troy) Patton and Wally Vaughn III.  Dearest Ginga of Alyssa (Rob Harris) Meredith, Stephani (Lucas) Hrabnicky, Katey (Zak) Kemper, Lauden Vaughn, Laine Vaughn and Kelsey Patton.  Great Ginga of Greyson Hrabnicky and the late Nora Anne Hrabnicky.  Dear brother of Ralph (Maureen) Vaughn and Brian (Mary) Vaughn.  Preceded in death by parents Walter Sr. and Janet Vaughn and brothers Joe Vaughn, David Vaughn and Skeet Vaughn.

Family Tribute

Wally, a self-proclaimed “ugly baby”burst forth into the world September 3, 1944 to his loving parents Walter Sr. and Janet Vaughn. Raised among a pack of brothers, (Joe, David, Skeet, Ralph, and Brian), one can only begin to imagine the hi-jinx and tomfoolery Wally and his siblings engaged in. Considering the funny man we all knew and loved, one must assume that Wally caused his fair share of gray hairs on both of his parents’ heads. He was always full of life and jokes.

Wally met his beautiful bride, Mary Jane, at Korvettes Department Store. Legend has it that he asked her to get something from a top shelf so that he could get a good view of “the store’s goods” when she climbed the ladder. Mary Jane denies the legend’s claims, but as much as the two loved one another, we can only trust that the legend is in fact true . Wally could always bring a smile to his honey’s face. Good times or bad, he always had a way to embody love and provoke humor. On their first date Wally took Mary Jane to a beautiful picnic at Elizabeth Park. Mary Jane was impressed by the romantic gesture, but disturbed by the packed lunch: Peanut Butter and Ketchup sandwiches. Needless to say, due to the inedible gag, their first date was moved to the A&W down the street for something more palatable.

The doting couple married on October 16, 1965. Wally and his bride devoted their lives to one another on that day and every day thereafter. Their devotion grew as they welcomed their daughter Jackie and son Wally III into the world. Wally dedicated his life to his family, always making sure that they were provided for in every way possible. Even if rain struck when they were on one of their many camping trips, Wally made sure to have a few flares handy to magically get the fire going. In Wally’s world, if there was a will, there was a way.

Wally had the joy of transitioning from Dad to Grandfather in a blink of an eye. Alyssa, Stephani, Katey, Lauden, and Laine all had the privilege of having Wally as their Ginga, and their love for him is unceasing. The stories and memories that they have of him--his jokes, his pranks, his love, his “cloth napkin bras”--are absolutely endless. The tales he would weave for them, like getting kissed by a deer while he was asleep in his hunting blind, and the tricks he would pull, such as “accidentally” hiding cards during every card game they played and “somehow” winning--all these remembrances bring a smile to their faces. His grandchildren, along with his great grandson Greyson, loved him so much and there is no doubt he loved them all more than life itself.

Beyond his family, Wally loved to work with his hands and be outdoors. He spent 41 years at Ford Motor Co. as a heavy equipment operator, and every spare moment he had was spent hunting (or napping…depending on who you ask), fishing, camping, and tinkering in his garage. Wally was an artist--he could paint, draw, and make anything out of a simple block of wood. If you were to step into his house you would immediately encounter examples of his craft: projects of every capacity hanging on the walls or sitting on a shelf. He loved to create.

Trying to fit a true example of who Wally was on a single piece of paper is near impossible. One could write a book filled with story after story of the significance he played in every single life he touched. He was just that kind of person. Someone you could go to for anything and know that he would do all he could to fill the need.

Always giving. Always loving. Always there.

The world looks different now that Wally is no longer here. Every tear shed is a testament to the profound existence that he lived when he was among us. While all we may have left are our memories, his life will echo through us until we meet him again. Even in the midst of our sorrow we will rejoice. We will laugh. We will love. Because that is who he was, and that is who we will be.

May our memories of him be eternal. May our grief turn to joy. May our tears move to laughter. And until our paths cross again, we will say nothing but toodles to our incredible husband, father, Ginga, and friend.

For now and forever.