Richard L. Hughes

Richard L. Hughes, 80, of Tiffin, passed away at 10:20 a.m., Thursday, March 9, 2023 at his residence.

Richard was born February 19, 1943, in Toledo, to the late Edwin LaRue and Elsie Marie (Arnett) Hughes. He married Arlene (Stucky) at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church in Clyde, on April 26, 1970.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene Hughes of Tiffin, children, Edwin lee (Mary Ann) Hughes of Norfolk, Virginia, Ronald Patrick (Melinda) Hughes of Boise, Idaho, Mary Grace (Jeremy) Franks of Tiffin, thirteen grandchildren, two brothers, Virgil (Clara) Hughes of Fostoria, Paul F. (Cindy) Hughes of Leesburg, Florida and a sister, Barbara Ray (Michael) Ray of Dadeville, Alabama.

Richard was the fifth child of the family. When he was 2 years old he was bitten by a rat which came up on the porch where he was sleeping. This caused him to have a fever and he had to learn to talk all over again. He had a slow start in early elementary but by high school he graduated from Lakota High School in rural Fostoria. As an adult this gave him a care of special needs classes when he later was a substitute teacher in local schools in Seneca Co., Mohawk, Upper Sandusky, Tiffin Sentinel and Clyde.

During high school one of his friends, Dennis, invited him to church and that is when he came to believe in Jesus. This decision would later help him mature into a caring adult who would help people in need. Later he would be an assistant leader of his sons’ Boy Scout Troop. In Tiffin he became a member of United Baptist Church on Coe Street, where he enjoyed being on the dart ball team, as well as the Grange team.

Before graduating from high school, Richard signed up for the United States Navy. After basic training he was later assigned to ships that relayed messages off the shores of Vietnam. So he always told people who asked “No I wasn’t in Vietnam but I was nearby.”

After his four years in the Navy he left active duty and was in the Navy Reserves. He got a factory job in Lima, near his parents’ home in Lima. In 1969 he was driving down a side road past a school along the side of the road was a young woman who had car trouble, he stopped to help her and that is how he met his wife, Arlene M. Stucky.

After an interval of time they met again and had a short courtship and married on April 26, 1970. Richard enlisted again in the Navy in 1976 and finished his career in Iceland, Wahiawa, Hawaii, San Diego, CA and Norfolk, VA.

After retiring from the Navy in 1993 they settled in Tiffin, where he worked for the Ritz Theater, Crossway and his favorite, being the Town Crier for the Heritage Festival.

He got his college degree from Tiffin University and got his substitute teaching license. He enjoyed substitute teaching up till the end of his life.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Albert Hughes, two sisters, Carol Milton and Katherine Balderson.

Funeral services for Richard will be at 1:00 p.m., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at the United Baptist Church in Tiffin with Pastor Jesse Caro officiating. Visitation for family and friends will also be held on Tuesday, from 11:30 a.m., until the time of the service at the church. Burial will follow the services on Tuesday at Woodlawn cemetery. The Engle-Shook Funeral Home & Crematory in Tiffin is assisting the family with their arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

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