Retired from Genetic

Toxicology Branch of EPA

Thomas Owens Vaughan (Owens) of Chapel Hill, N.C., passed away on July 20, 2007, following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Vaughan was born in Tallapoosa, Ga., on Aug. 26, 1932, to Susie Davidson Owens and Claude Lawrence Vaughan. A 1950 graduate of Gaffney High School, he was a member of the 1949 State Championship basketball team. This collection of scrappy young players, coached by a disciplinarian who stressed fundamentals, beat all odds that year to claim the school's first state championship in basketball. Owens was also a member of the football team.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force in December of 1950 and served four years and was honorably discharged. His tour of duty included posts in England, Korea and Japan. As a 1957 graduate of Lenoir Rhyne College, he taught in Mecklenburg County and Bessemer City, N.C. For 10 years he was a research assistant in the Biochemistry Department at the University of North Carolina Medical School in Chapel Hill and retired after 25 years with the Genetic Toxicology Branch of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C. He was well liked and highly respected in his field. He was also a member of the Excelsior Lodge 261 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Charlotte for almost 50 years.

Owens was a kind and gentle man loved by all who knew him. He was generous and always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. He was dearly loved by his wife, Betty Lee McAlister Vaughan; his son, Dr. Stephen Owens Vaughan and wife, Kathleen Scherr Vaughan; and grandchildren, William Owens (Kip) and Merriwether Caroline (Merri) whom he helped home-school. They will always have fond memories of him.

He is also survived by a brother, Claude Lawrence Vaughan Jr, of Rock Hill; and a sister, Dorothy Clary of Tryon, N.C. His best friend, Clifton P. Jones, is remembered for his loving acts of kindness to his "brother" Owens.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father and sister, Martha Millsap.

We express gratitude to the staff and nurses at Croasdaile Village Pavilion for the wonderful care he has received for almost a thousand days, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

To keep the wonderful spirit of Owens alive, we ask that any memorial donations be made in his name to the Southeastern Guide Dogs - "Paws for Patriots" program at 4210 77th Street E., Palmetto, FL34221 - Phone: 1-941-729-5665 or 1-800-944-dogs (800-944- 3647) - Fax: 941-729-6646, assisting returning disabled veterans with guide dogs so that others may be blessed with a gift from him.

No services are planned at this time.

Arrangements made by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas. Online condolences can be made at www.cremnc.com.