Vaughn Keith Munn
Vaughn Keith Munn, 82, of Nome, Alaska, passed away peacefully at Providence Extended Care in Anchorage, Alaska on April 13, 2025, just two days shy of his 83rd birthday.
He was cremated on April 16 and returned home to Nome after living in Anchorage for eight years.
He was born in Newark, New York, on April 15, 1942, to the late Gordon M. and Mary V. Munn. He was the youngest of three children.
Vaughn attended Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before studying at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. He was a Vietnam era veteran who served in the US Navy in 1965.
He was influenced by Jack London's book “The Call of the Wild” and moved to Alaska. He made his way to Nome, working as a district manager at General Telephone Electric (GTE) Company (1969-1994), where he installed some of the first telephone lines in Northwest Alaska. He loved electronics and prided himself on owning the first computer in Nome.
In 1973 he went on a world tour and while visiting Vietnam, met his former spouse, Thu Lan, and brought her to Nome, Alaska. Though this relationship wasn't permanent, they did have three children together and remained friends throughout his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Patricia S. Munn; his siblings Sumner T. Munn and Beverly J. Wideman, and his grandchild Riley J. Knudsen.
Vaughn is survived by his former wife Thu Lan Munn, and mother of his children: Kim L. (Sean) Knudsen, Vaughn Thomas H. Munn, and Lynn K. L. (Bret) Hicken. His son Jonathan S. Munn through his deceased wife Patricia, and her children whom he raised as his own: Richard W. Lockwood, Crystal A. Lockwood and Adrienne D. Lockwood. His ten grandchildren are Jeremy, Addison, Aiden, Reese, Kien, Ellie, Cordell, Julie, Sorin, and Alisha.
There will be a graveside service where his cremains will be buried at the Nome City Cemetery with military honors on May 31 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Affairs at www.vfw.org