Barbara Vaughan dies at 96
Barbara Vaughan was a fixture around Lewes, from her work as a champion for civic causes to riding her trademark trike bike.
Vaughan, 96, died Oct. 16.
Vaughan served on Lewes City Council from 2004 to 2012.
In a 2012 Cape Gazette article, Vaughan listed her top accomplishments as the completion of Canalfront Park, city hall expansion and restoration of Second Street.
Jim Ford, who was mayor during Vaughan’s council tenure, said she was a tireless advocate for Lewes.
“Barbara was a dedicated member of city council and was involved in various community services,” he said. “She was a progressive thinker, and committed to making changes to improve our city and our country. [She was] the first Prius owner I knew! She championed creating our smoke-free parks, was a passionate advocate for zoning, historic preservation and lobbied for a city planner. A determined worker, she accomplished most of what she set out to do. I enjoyed our working relationship, but also our time together, traveling for city business and talking baseball. Lewes is a better community because of her, and those who were her friends are better people as well.”
Vaughan ran for the 20th District House of Representatives seat in 2016. She lost the election to Steve Smyk.
She was also a driving force behind the creation of the Greater Lewes Community Village, which changed its name to Village Volunteers in 2019.
Anna Moshier, Village Volunteers executive director and former manager of Osher Lifelong Learning, worked closely with Vaughan at Osher.
Moshier said Vaughan was on the Osher board of directors and was a lifelong supporter of adult learning.
“She didn’t let anything get her down,” Moshier said. “She was always an active part of the community, advocating for the right stuff. Her tenacity and drive were the reason we were so successful.”
Before moving to Lewes in 1992, Vaughan served as director of admissions at the Key School in Annapolis, Md.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
