Dorothy Whdeelwright Vaughn
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 11:14 AM PST
Dorothy
Wheelwright Vaughn
Jan. 8, 1910 - Oct. 31, 2009
Preston
Dorothy Wheelwright Vaughn died Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Preston, Idaho, where she had only recently taken residence near one of her children after many years in Saint George and Santa Clara, Utah. She was born in Ogden, Utah, Jan. 8, 1910, to John H. and Maria (Mary) Wheelwright, the third of seven children. She married George E. Vaughn, Nov. 25, 1933. Dorothy was reared in Ogden where she graduated from high school in 1927. She worked for Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. After their marriage, she and George continued to live in Ogden, started a family and, like so many others, struggled through the great depression. As the war economy swung into production, George found work in the construction of the Ogden Arsenal, became an expert in loading bombs with TNT and eventually rose to the position of foreman while Dorothy took care of a growing family. After the war, the family relocated to Nyssa and later to Payette County, where they built and operated a bowling center. Dorothy was a full partner in the operation of the business, and she and George made many friends among their customers and fellow bowling proprietors. They retired to Arizona in 1978, where they enjoyed the sun and the race track and made many new friends. In 1985, George and Dorothy moved to Saint George, where they bought one of the first townhouses in The Ridge community on the black hill above Bluff Street. In their declining years they enjoyed the warmth and beauty of southern Utah. Dorothy loved to read good books and instilled a love of reading in her children. She particularly loved history and historical novels and the mysteries of Dick Francis. She was a life-long member of the LDS Church and served many years in the Primary.
She is survived by her son, Larry (June) Vaughn, of Nampa, Idaho; her daughter, Carolyn (Veryl) Cleverly, of Preston, Idaho; her son, David, of Saint George, Utah; and her daughter, Kathleen (Lee Hughes) Nielson, of Santa Clara, Utah; 15 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George, and her three sisters and three brothers. She will be missed by her loving family and her many friends who knew her for her sweet disposition and kindness. Her family expresses their heartfelt thanks to Zion’s Way Hospice for their many hours of love and devotion in helping care for Dorothy as her ability to care for herself ebbed away. The family also thanks the personnel of Ted Warthen Assisted Living, in Saint George, Utah, and of the Heritage Home in Preston, Idaho, for the love and care they provided Dorothy in her last days. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah. A viewing will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.today, and again from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday prior to services at the mortuary.
Interment will take place at the Santa Clara Cemetery. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary (435) 673-2454. Friends and family are invited to sign Dorothy’s guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com.
