David Vaughan

David “D.” Throop Vaughan 95 1/2, passed away in his sleep December 12, 2010 at Hoosier Village in Indianapolis, IN. Throop was born in Chicago, IL August 12, 1915 to Dr. Roger Throop Vaughan and Louise Lord Vaughan. His family had a long history of political, educational, and medical leadership. His great grandfather, Amos Gager Throop, served as Treasurer of Chicago, and arranged financing to rebuild the City after the “Great Fire”. In exchange for his service, city officials named Throop Street in his honor. Mr. Throop also founded what is now known as Cal Tech University in Pasadena, California where he also served as Mayor. Mr. Vaughan’s grandfather, John Charles Vaughan, founded the Vaughan Seed Company, famous for its’ garden variety seeds. His father, Dr. Roger Throop Vaughan was a prominent physician practicing at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. In 1924 Dr. and Mrs. Roger Vaughan moved their family from the "big city" to a rural farm 30-miles south of Chicago where 9-year-old Throop and his brother and two sisters enjoyed dairy cows, hay wagons, horses and ponies, and playing in the creek. Right from the beginning Mr. Vaughan established a lifelong practice of physical exercise, winning the 1928 Boy Scout award for “first place” in the Cook County Health Championship for Boys and Girls. As a teenager, Throop often rode his bicycle several hundred miles to and from the Copper Harbor Lighthouse in the U.P. of Michigan. Even in his 90’s, he maintained a vigorous exercise routine. Education also played a key role in Mr. Vaughan’s life. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Chicago in 1937 and would remain one of the University’s staunchest supporters. He was also an active member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and remained in close touch with his "brothers" throughout his life. Upon graduation, Throop began a long career in banking, eventually serving as a Vice President, Senior Investment Analyst, and Manager of the Municipal Bond Department at Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust, now Bank of America. In 1941 Mr. Vaughan married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth “Betty” Mary Karnes of Flossmoor, IL who in 1995, after more than 54-years of marriage, passed away in Indianapolis at the Saint Vincent Hospice Center. The young couple took an active role in designing and physically building their first home, affectionately known as “Little House”, on the Vaughan family farm. Betty’s father was one of the principle designers and developers of the town of Flossmoor. Her brother, William G. Karnes rose to the top of the corporate world as President of Beatrice Foods and steering the restructuring of International Harvester Corporation. During World War II, Corporal Vaughan spent four years in England from 1942 to 1946 serving in the 8th Air Force and 3rd SAD as an airborne radar technician for B-24 “Liberator” Bombers. After the War Throop and Betty and other family members attended many Air Force reunions at Watton Air Base in East Anglia, England where he had been stationed. Throop maintained a close friendship for over 65 years with the Offleys, a local Watton family who befriended him during the war years. He often rode his bicycle from the air field to their family farm for Sunday dinners where he was affectionately known as “Throop Throop.” Mr. Vaughan was also an outstanding civic leader as President of the Hazelcrest School District, organized and became president of the local Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Board of Deacons of the Flossmoor Community Church. He also served as one of the founding Trustees and interim administrator of the 300-bed South Suburban Hospital located in Hazel Crest, Illinois. Wife Betty also put in more than 5,500 hours of volunteer work at the hospital. When Throop turned 60, he and Betty decided it was time to retire. They moved from the “Little House” to an established neighborhood in Olympia Fields, IL. They also purchased a small log cabin near Nashville, IN to spend time with the real love of their lives... their three children, Susan Vaughan Nelson of Indianapolis, David Lord Vaughan of McKinney, Texas, and William Karnes Vaughan of Dodgeville, Wisconsin.... and especially their six grandchildren. In 1989 the Vaughan’s sold their Illinois home and moved to Hunt Club Village in Zionsville, IN to be closer to their daughter. In 1994 they moved into an apartment at Hoosier Village Retirement Center where Betty lived for another year. In 1997 Throop helped design and endow the Elizabeth Karnes Vaughan Chapel at South Suburban Hospital in memory of his wife. The Chapel has become an integral part of the healing process for both the clergy and medical staff. For the next 15-years Throop traveled extensively with his daughter as well as friends from the retirement center and Zionsville United Methodist Church where he was a member. He also led a very active life at Hoosier Village singing in the choir, participating in plays and social activities, and cultivating strong friendships. Throop was always very appreciative of the love and care he received while there. But most of all, he was delighted to be a great grandfather of five with a sixth on the way. While he outlived all of his siblings and most of his friends, they were always on his mind. He delighted in researching ancestral history and maintaining excellent archival family records. He is missed by so many who knew and loved him as Throop, Dad, Gramps, Great Grandpa, Uncle Throop, “Trooper” and friend. Today he is at peace and being reunited with those who arrived in Heaven before him. He will always be remembered for his kindness, patient spirit, his steady disposition, his cheerful demeanor, his sharp intellect and his keen attention to detail. A memorial service will be conducted at 2pm Saturday, January 22, 2011 at the Hoosier Village chapel at 5300 West 96th Street, Indianapolis with The Reverend John Samples presiding. The service will be followed by a reception in the Great Hall. Final arrangements are being made through Flanner & Buchanan, Zionsville. Condolences may be sent via the Internet at www.flannerbuchanan.com. with contributions made to Hoosier Village. Another memorial service will be conducted in the Spring in the Elizabeth Karnes Vaughan Chapel at South Suburban Hospital. Internment will follow at the family gravesite at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chicago.