Isabelle McVaugh, leader in meeting

Isabelle Ewing McVaugh, 90, a former Sunday school administrator for the Westfield Friends Meeting in Cinnaminson, died Saturday, Jan. 24, at Medford Leas, the retirement community in Medford, where she had lived in recent years.

William C. Probsting, former head of Westfield Friends School, recalled Mrs. McVaugh as "a marvelously dedicated, hardworking, and unassuming, humble Quaker."

In the 1950s and into the 1960s, Probsting said, "she was a member of the Westfield Friends School Committee," the board that runs what is called the First Day School.

Separately, he said, the Westfield Friends Meeting ran a summer program for five or six years in the 1960s.

"Isabelle was a vital part of the subcommittee that operated that program," he said.

"We bused from 40 to 50 kids from North Philadelphia over to New Jersey and did arts and crafts, swimming, sports, and served breakfast, lunch, and a snack," all at the Quaker school.

And, Probsting recalled, she was one of half a dozen Westfield Meeting overseers, who dealt with "the social welfare of the meeting members."

"People going through difficult times need support, and an overseer provides that help," he said.

Born in Abington, Mrs. McVaugh graduated from George School in Bucks County and attended Wellesley College, but dropped out to marry Jack McVaugh in 1945.

A civil engineer, Mr. McVaugh was president of McVaugh Construction Co. in Riverton, which built Medford Leas, according to his 2009 death notice.

After Mr. McVaugh retired, the couple moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., in the 1970s, and returned each summer to the home that he had built at Barnegat Light.

In 1993, they founded Arizona School Choice Trust, which, according to its website, serves low-income children through the administration of three state tax credit scholarship programs.

Under the programs, individuals and corporations can receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits while funding education scholarships for low-income, disabled, and foster children in Arizona.The scholarships are intended for tuition in private elementary and secondary schools.

Daughter Mary Shannon said that her parents established the trust because "they felt that low-income children didn't have enough chance for a good education."

Besides her daughter, Mrs. McVaugh is survived by son Jay, a brother, three grandchildren, and a great-grandson. She was predeceased by her husband, their daughter Sally MacEwen, and granddaughter Katie Shannon.

A memorial service is being planned for a site and March date to be determined.

Donations may be sent to www.asct.org.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.