FRANKLIN — Charles Evan Vaughan, 58, beloved son, brother and friend, passed away on Dec. 20, 2015, at the Sentara Hospice House in Virginia Beach with his family at his bedside after a short battle with cancer.

He was born in Franklin, the son of Rowland Bryan Vaughan Jr. and Eugenia (Jean) Galtress Vaughan.

Charles was a 1975 graduate of Franklin High School and a 1979 Mechanical Engineering graduate of Virginia Tech. He was a former engineer at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, and Jewett Automation in Richmond, Virginia.

He retired on disability at the age of 30 once he was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

He was a past president of the Franklin Jaycees and was awarded the Lifetime Membership Award by the Virginia Jaycees. He was a member of the Nottoway Investment Club and Hunterdale Christian Church. He enjoyed for many years helping the students on the Franklin High School Robotics Team. He was also an active member of the Matrix Group, the Gisa Group and the Mastering Alchemy Group.

Left to cherish his memory are his sister, Connie Lankford Cornwell (Billy), of Franklin; his nephew, Aubrey Paul Lankford Jr. (Terri) of Morrisville, North Carolina; his niece, Jenny Lankford Owen (Tommy) of Edwardsville, Illinois; extended family, nephews William Dale Cornwell Jr. (Amber) of Chesapeake, Adam Christian Cornwell (Tonya) of Franklin; great-nephews, Isaiah Cornwell, Kai Cornwell and Christian Cornwell; two very special friends, Wilson “Bo” C. Blythe (Tammy) of Franklin, and Johnny E. Bryant (Helen) of Courtland; and many, many aunts, uncles and cousins.

The memorial service with be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26, in Wright Funeral Home with the Dr. Reginald Warren officiating. The reception will follow the service at the American Legion Building at 935 Armory Drive in Franklin to celebrate Charles’s life.

Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org.