B. Vaughn Freedman

B. Vaughn Freedman, who was born in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England in 1944, and lived in Lewisburg, OH since 1945, passed away surrounded by family on 14 August 2015, at Hospice of Dayton. He was the son of the late Joseph T. Freedman, a Kentucky native and Air Force veteran, and the late May Noble Freedman of England, who met during World War II. Hundreds of Northridge School District students knew him as a favorite math teacher and Miami Valley Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame baseball coach who did not miss a day of school in 33 years.

Mr. Freedman was a product of Lewisburg schools, where he won recognition as the state of Ohio 440-yard dash champion in 1962. He graduated from McKendree University in Lebanon, IL. An active member of his community, he served on the Preble County Election Board for years as a presiding judge, and was president of the Lewisburg Schools Alumni Association, emceeing its annual banquet, for a decade. In 2013, he was a Grand Marshal for the village's annual Derby Days parade, and was often to be found at the wheel of his 1975 Oldsmobile convertible in Lewisburg's Memorial Day Parade. According to his brother, Richard Freedman, everyone who knew him knew he was a passionate lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Reds.

With no children of his own, Mr. Freedman was described as a "world class uncle" by his five nieces and three nephews, who, although scattered from Massachusetts to the Pacific Coast, managed to spend time with "Uncle Vaughn" in Lewisburg and at his Indian Lake cottage. They include Christopher Tilton (Becky) of Camden; Heather Grace (Timothy), Dalton, MA; Misty Grant (Shawn), Arcanum; Marnie Paterson (Robert), Erie, PA; Gregory Freedman, Gilroy, CA; Lindsey Beasley (Johnny), Kingsburg, CA; Sheridan Straub (Gregory), West Linn, OR; and Robert Freedman (Santa Clara, CA). Another nephew, Matthew Tilton, predeceased Mr. Freedman. There are also five grandnephews, 8 grandnieces, two great-grandnephews, and three great-grandnieces.

Mr. Freedman was an avid golfer, known for organizing golf trips to Myrtle Beach and Florida for groups of friends. He was a member of Sons of the American Legion in West Alexandria, and of two Eagles lodges.

He is survived by brother Richard Freedman (Teri) of Gilroy, CA; sister Susan Golshani of Saylesville, OH; and a large, loving cohort of cousins, nieces and nephews, "grands and greats".

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, at First United Church of Christ in Lewisburg, OH at 400 N. Main St. Vaughn's longtime friend, Pastor David Justis will officiate. Barnes Funeral Home of Lewisburg is handling arrangements, and donations in Mr. Freedman's memory may be made to the Hospice of Dayton