James Lester Vaughn Sr.

James Lester Vaughn Sr.

James Lester Vaughn Sr. passed away peacefully on Friday, April 11, 2025, just past his 85th birthday. He transitioned while on hospice in Tallmadge, Ohio due to complications surrounding his ongoing battle with Parkinsons Disease. James’s life was about faith, generosity, and fierce loyalty and love of family to not only friends but also those with whom he chanced to meet throughout his lifetime.

James Lester Vaughn was born in his grandfather’s home at midnight on February 21, 1940, in Starkville, Mississippi, to his father, James, 22 and his mother, Ludella, 18. He was the oldest of his seven siblings (Mary, Charles, Clifton, Clinton, Julia and Linda). He developed strong family bonds as he worked alongside his family on the family-owned farm. At age 9, he began working on the milk delivery routes with his father James Henry to help assist and support his younger siblings.

As a youth, James attended Ebenezer Elementary School. Always working to help support his family, he drove the school bus to and from Oktibbeha County Training School (OCTS). While in attendance he excelled at playing both basketball and football. He graduated from OCTS in 1958. He began as a freshman at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi in the fall, having received a scholarship for football. Throughout his time in college while majoring in Social Sciences he was divided between working to help his family back home, participating in the sports program and attending to his studies.

During his last year, he and his siblings lost their mother Ludella in January 1963, but also later the same year in August, James drafted as a Private E1 in the United States Army, and requested to report for active duty from Jackson, MS. He went through basic training as part of Company H 2ND Battalion 5th Regiment at U.S. Army Training Center Infantry in Fort Polk, Louisiana which was an Army base.

With early release James relocated as part of the Army Reserve in Missouri. James worked first at Greyhound and then at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft as an installer. His preflight group connected and performed the air conditioning and testing for the hydraulics of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat Fighter Aircraft.

It was during this time that James met his future wife, Gloria Faye Davis while visiting her cousin and his best friend William Calvin in St Louis, Missouri. Gloria was not immediately impressed, but James grew on her. He left St Louis to marry Gloria on January 21, 1967, in Cleveland Ohio in a private ceremony. They soon welcomed Tanya Janese in June 1968, James Lester Jr in March 1970, and Kimberly Tamera in 1974.

During the next few decades his work career began with Cleveland Transit System (CTS) as a “motorman”, next moving to a route salesman for The Cleveland Press Newspaper. He eventually switched careers to work for Continental Baking Company aka Wonderbread in 1975 as a route salesman and ending as Branch Manager. He began golfing during this time and due to a health scare, he became interested in physical fitness. He retired as a Supervisor for Entenmann’s Baking Company in 2002.

James was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Faye Davis Vaughn (2014); his daughter, Kimberly Tamera (1974); his parents, James Henry Vaughn (2004), and Ludella Jones Vaughn (1963); twin brothers, Clinton Lloyd Vaughn (1991), and Clifton Floyd Vaughn (1966); sisters, Julia Ann Vaughn Hudson (2025) and Linda Marie Vaughn Hampton (2024).

He leaves behind to cherish his memory of daughter Tanya Janese Vaughn-Smith, son James Lester Vaughn Jr, his sister, Mary Vaughn McGee of Glenarden, Maryland; and Charles Vaughn Stallings of Shiloh, Illinois; daughters Telitha Brown (Missouri) and Tara Campbell (Mississippi); a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, dear friends, past students, and countless lives he touched with his dedication and generosity.

James Lester Vaughn Sr lived driven by the love of family and friends, and the basic joy of living, laughing - leaving lasting memories with all that knew him.

SERVICES

We will begin to celebrate James during calling hours on MONDAY, April 28, 2025, from 5-7 PM at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, located at 85 N. Miller Rd. Akron, OH 44333. Funeral Service will begin the following day at 11AM on TUESDAY, April 29, 2025, at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel. His burial will follow immediately at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery with Military Honors at 1:15 PM.

Our family will be pleased by any show of your affection by either ordering memorial trees or sending flowers on behalf of our family in memory of James Lester Vaughn Sr., please visit our flower store.

Services in Care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory,  85 N. Miller Rd. Akron, OH 44333.