home in Coppell, TX. He was born November 8, 1921 in Pitkin, LA to Everett Preston Hughes
and Maggie Mae Bond Hughes.
August 1940 he enlisted in the US Navy in New Orleans, LA and completed boot camp and
radio school in San Diego, CA. He was a proud patriot,
WWII Veteran and a Pearl Harbor Survivor.
His WWII service gave him a front row seat to the beginning of the war in the Pacific Theater.
He survived the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 while aboard the USS Utah serving
as a radio operator. He was aboard the USS Gasconade in Tokyo Bay, Japan on V-J Day
September 2, 1945, when the Japanese Surrender was signed.
Post WWII he directed award winning Naval Reserve Units on the campuses of Louisiana
Tech University in Ruston, LA and the University of Sam Houston in Huntsville, TX.
November 1, 1962 he retired from the US Navy, as a Master Chief Petty Officer, after 22 ½
years service.
In 1962 he joined the FBI in Dallas, TX. He participated in the investigation of the
assassination of President John F. Kennedy and received an accommodation for his service.
He retired in 1984, after 20 years in telecommunications with the Atlantic Richfield Company.
Bill attended many USS Utah Survivor Association Reunions, building lifelong friendships
with shipmates. He travelled with his family and friends back to Pearl Harbor, HI to attend
the 60 th, 65 th and 75th Pearl Harbor Memorial Commemorations. He was a student of history
and was honored to speak at several local schools and other engagements about his Pearl
Harbor experience; including key note speaker for the Allen TX Veterans Day Memorial and
Grand Marshall of the Dallas, TX Veterans Day Parade.
March 31, 1943 Bill married Marie Gibson of Pitkin, LA in San Diego, CA and they made their
home in San Francisco, CA. They had 2 daughters Dianne and Donna.
January 18, 1948 Bill married Herma Reeca Parker in Pine Bluff, AR. Their first home was in
Camden, AR on the Naval Base. They lived in Arkansas, Louisiana and in Grand Prairie, TX
for 50 years. They had 3 children, Bill Jr. and twins; Beverly and Sherry. They celebrated 65
years of marriage shortly before her passing July 17, 2013.
He was baptized in the Methodist Church during a summer revival in Louisiana. In later
years, he was a member of Westridge Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, TX. He was a Cub
Scout Leader and Sunday School Teacher. Hobbies included HAM Radio Operator, genealogy
research and the study of history. He always looked on the bright side of life, loved making
new friends and staying active. He will be profoundly missed.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife Reeca and is survived by his sister, Trudy
Hines; children, Dianne Duncan & husband Stephen; Donna Victor & husband Michael;
William E. Hughes, Jr.;Twins, Beverly Hughes McMahon & Sherry Hughes; granddaughter,
Christina Plummer & husband Greg; grandsons, Joseph Rodgers, Jonathan Rodgers, Michael
Connors, Brad Hughes & wife Kristen, and Riley Hughes McMahon; great granddaughter,
Renee Rodgers; great grandsons, Kyle Rodgers, Donovan Rodgers, Aidan Connors, Hudson
Hughes and Declan Hughes; along with many cherished friends and family.
Memorial service will be held 10:30 am November 7, 2018 at St. Joseph Village Chapel, Coppell
TX followed by a 2:00 pm Military Honors Burial at DFW National Cemetery, Dallas, TX
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