Vaughn Rue

WILSON - Vaughn T. Rue, 86, died peacefully on Saturday, October 1, 2016, in his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral, Tuesday, 2:00 PM, First United Methodist Church, followed by a reception in Asbury Hall. The family will be at home on Monday, 5:00 - 7:00 PM.

Surviving is his faithful wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Moore Rue; daughters, Ellen Rue Gaby (Bill Buhr) of Lohman, MO, and Amy Rue Schiener (Christian) of Bozeman MT; granddaughters, Allison Alden Gaby of San Francisco, CA, and Catherine Ann Gaby of Raleigh.

Vaughn was born on Virginia's Eastern Shore on April 11, 1930 to Clarence Alden and Gertrude Drummond Rue and was preceded in death by all of his five siblings. He spent his boyhood exploring the wharfs and bay near their home in Exmore, VA. After graduating from North Hampton High School, he entered the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict where he spent the majority of his service on an air-sea rescue boat stationed on Johnston Island in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.

Following military service, he entered the University of Kentucky where he majored in business and joined Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. It was there he met his future wife. Following graduation, he joined Union Starch and Refining in Granite City, IL, as the director of Training and Education. Later, he was transferred to North Carolina as Regional Sales Manager for the Carolinas and Virginia moving to Wilson to manage what was then Food Processors. He found himself involved in what would be his business in one form or another for the remainder of his life: sweet potatoes - the same crop grown by his extended family on the Eastern Shore for generations. Although he never grew the crop, he was instrumental and innovative in marketing and shipping North Carolina sweet potatoes over much of the country as well and England for over forty years. He served a term as President of the NC Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and was active in various sweet potato organizations.

In Wilson, he was a loyal member of his church and the Elks Club. As a member of the Wilson Chorale, where he served as President, he thoroughly enjoyed singing and performing participating in their many out of state venues.

In retirement, he volunteered with the Community Soup Kitchen for a number of years while it was still in its original location. At Wilson Community College, he participated in the senior art classes taught by Martha Beland. Picking up the brushes at age 76, he looked forward to the classes and continued until illness struck at age 84. Some of his happiest times in his later years were spent at Croaker Cottage on his beloved Eastern Shore - taking his boat out on Occohannock Creek to fish in the beautiful Chesapeake Bay.

Memorials are suggested to the Endowment Fund of the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 1423, Wilson, NC 27894-1423, or the Community Soup Kitchen, PO Box 1527, Wilson, NC 27894-1527.