Vaughn Galen Hillgren, age 75, of Great Cacapon, WV, died on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs, WV.
Born April 18, 1938 in Ohiowa, NE, he was the son of the late Delbert and Freida Lorene Saatmann Hillgren.
He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church where he had served as an usher. Vaughn graduated from Ohiowa High School, earned his Bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Chaminade University in Honolulu, HI and his Master’s degree from Central Michigan University. He served with the U.S. Air Force and then with the U. S. Army, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer. He was awarded many decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons including the Bronze Star Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Following his military career, Vaughn worked as an Intelligence Analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency. Vaughn was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Council #12191 and Fr. Patrick J. Gillooly Assembly #3214, Alderton-Dawson American Legion Post #60, the ROMEO’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and the OV1 Mohawk Association. He enjoyed restoring tractors, music, fishing and reading.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Shirley Elizabeth Reinsch Hillgren, at home, his children, John Thomas Hillgren and his wife Deborah of Dumfries, VA, Anne Louise Hatley of Charlottesville, VA, Douglas Michael Hillgren of Harpers Ferry, WV and Mary Carmen Spinks of Woodbridge, VA, two brothers, Douglas Heun of Linwood, NJ and John Heun of Woodbine, NJ, eight grandchildren, Joseph Michael Hillgren of Harpers Ferry, Amy Marie God of Mehoopany, PA, Benjamin Cartwright Hillgren of Bethesda, MD, Lorelei Denise Hillgren of Dumfries, Veronica Ann Hillgren of Rochester, NY, Daniel Galen Hillgren of Winchester, VA, Sarah Louise Hatley of Richmond, VA, and William Vaughn Spinks of Charlottesville, three great grandchildren, Gage Michael God and Bryan Wilson God, both of Mehoopany and Emily Mae Hillgren of Harpers Ferry and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Victor Hillgren, Vernon Hillgren and Phillip Heun.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at noon on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Liberty and S. Washington Streets, Berkeley Springs, WV with the Rev. Fr. Leonard A. Smith as celebrant. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, WV where there will be a Christian Wake service at 7:45 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.science from Chaminade University in Honolulu, HI and his Master’s degree from Central Michigan University. He served with the U.S. Air Force and then with the U. S. Army, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer. He was awarded many decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons including the Bronze Star Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Following his military career, Vaughn worked as an Intelligence Analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency. Vaughn was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Council #12191 and Fr. Patrick J. Gillooly Assembly #3214, Alderton-Dawson American Legion Post #60, the ROMEO’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and the OV1 Mohawk Association. He enjoyed restoring tractors, music, fishing and reading.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Shirley Elizabeth Reinsch Hillgren, at home, his children, John Thomas Hillgren and his wife Deborah of Dumfries, VA, Anne Louise Hatley of Charlottesville, VA, Douglas Michael Hillgren of Harpers Ferry, WV and Mary Carmen Spinks of Woodbridge, VA, two brothers, Douglas Heun of Linwood, NJ and John Heun of Woodbine, NJ, eight grandchildren, Joseph Michael Hillgren of Harpers Ferry, Amy Marie God of Mehoopany, PA, Benjamin Cartwright Hillgren of Bethesda, MD, Lorelei Denise Hillgren of Dumfries, Veronica Ann Hillgren of Rochester, NY, Daniel Galen Hillgren of Winchester, VA, Sarah Louise Hatley of Richmond, VA, and William Vaughn Spinks of Charlottesville, three great grandchildren, Gage Michael God and Bryan Wilson God, both of Mehoopany and Emily Mae Hillgren of Harpers Ferry and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Victor Hillgren, Vernon Hillgren and Phillip Heun.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at noon on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Liberty and S. Washington Streets, Berkeley Springs, WV with the Rev. Fr. Leonard A. Smith as celebrant. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, WV where there will be a Christian Wake service at 7:45 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
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