Holyoke, MA - John Vaught, 91, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2022 at Mary’s Meadow in Holyoke, MA, after a period of declining health.
John Cristian Vaught was born on April 16, 1930 in Franklin Park, IL, to Claude and Mamie (Nelson) Vaught. He was raised in Clinton, IA, graduated from Lyons High School in Clinton, and from Iowa State University in 1952 with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. John was a member of the Naval ROTC program and served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 - 1955, achieving the rank of lieutenant. In 1960 John graduated with a M. Div. degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA.
He married Bonny (Bean) on December 21, 1952, in Clinton.
John was ordained into the Lutheran ministry and installed as pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in San Jose, CA on June 12, 1960. His work continued in Albuquerque, NM, then in the New York City area with the Singer Corporation and the National Bank of North America.
In May of 1997 John and Bonny retired to Hadley, MA. They were active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Amherst, and in many organizations in support of justice, equality, human rights and ecumenism. John’s retirement was short lived, and he resumed his early career as a Lutheran pastor. He served as interim pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Orange, MA, and at Bethesda Lutheran Church, Springfield, MA. He served the New England Synod as a supply pastor and as a developer of congregational stewardship programs.
In 2009 John and Bonny moved to the Lathrop Community in Easthampton, MA, and were
active participants in that community until Bonny’s death on October 14, 2018. John then
relocated to The Arbors in Amherst and in late 2019 to Mary’s Meadow in Holyoke.
John was a skilled and talented stained glass artist. Drawing on his training as an engineer and innate artistic sense, he designed and executed many works. His art was featured in an exhibit at the Inn at Lathrop in 2015. He was devoted to his wife Bonny, and was supportive of and dedicated to her and her many skills and interests.
John was predeceased by his parents, his brother Richard, and his beloved wife Bonny. He
is survived by his extended family and his many friends in the Pioneer Valley and beyond.
A memorial service will be conducted via Zoom on Saturday, March 5, 11am EST. Details are available from Boucher-O’Brien Funeral Home in Easthampton, MA
https://www.boucherobrienfuneralhome.com.
Memorials may be directed to Cathedral in the Night http://www.cathedralinthenight.org or
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries https://www.elm.org.
Here is the link for the memorial service https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7306514877?pwd=TFVpL0twSUhBeXFuRXQ5dmJMRDlVdz09