Donna Jean (Shields) Vaughn, 89, passed away on October 11th, 2026 at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was a Western Pennsylvania native, the daughter of the late George Shields and Jenevie “Jane” (Kirchner) Shields.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Robert “Bob” Vaughn and her brothers, Richard Shields and Patrick Shields.
Donna was full of life and enjoyed living life to the fullest. She was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper by Westinghouse and the Borough of Beaver. She and her husband were actively involved with the Girl Scouts, leading many canoeing, hiking and camping trips to Canada. In the early 1980s, they moved to Asheville, North Carolina where they spent many happy years along with their beloved dogs, Buffy and Rufus. While in Asheville, she served as a docent at the Biltmore House and Gardens, was an active member of her local P.E.O chapter, and volunteered at Central United Methodist Church of Asheville. She was an outstanding cook and hostess who enjoyed nothing more than entertaining her family and friends. She loved music and later in life took up the harp, playing for her own enjoyment and for family and friends. She and her husband traveled extensively, and they spent 13 wonderful years wintering in Telluride, Colorado where she skied into her seventies while also volunteering at the local elementary school and making friends with every dog she met. Her final act of kindness was to give the gift of life through organ, tissue, and cornea donation.
Donna is survived by her sisters-in-law, Jeannie MacDougall of Atascadero, California, Lois Shields of Maricopa, Arizona, and Susan Shields of Gibsonia, as well as many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins along with many dear friends that she considered her family.
A Celebration of Donna’s life will be held on Friday, October 23rd with visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of a service at 12 noon at the Noll Funeral Home Inc, 333 Third Street, Beaver, who was in charge of her arrangements. A service and interment of her ashes will be held on Sunday, November 8th at 2 P.M. at Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, North Carolina. Donations in her memory may be made to the P.E.O Scholarship Fund peointernational.org/make-a-gift/#donate (AC/Asheville Chapter) or to a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com.