Robert Thomas McHugh

Our father, Robert Thomas McHugh, passed away on February 27, 2026, at the age of 86.

Our dad was born on July 17, 1939, in Dayton, Ohio, where he grew up and eventually built his life. He later settled in Kettering, Ohio, where he and our mother raised their family and created a home filled with love, faith, and strong values.

Our father was married to our mother, Diana June McHugh, for 63 years. They met when our mom was just 19 years old, and from that moment forward they built a life together defined by love, loyalty, and commitment. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and aunt; Earl McHugh, Vivian McHugh, Gary McHugh, and Virginia Stichter.

Our parents raised three children: Jeffrey Thomas McHugh, Tracy Renee McHugh, and Matthew Thomas McHugh. We lost our sister Tracy in 1994 when she was only 26 years old, a loss that remained close to our father’s heart throughout his life.

Our family grew through marriage as well, and our father was grateful for the daughters-in-law who became part of our family: Laura McHugh, wife of Jeffrey McHugh, and Wendi McHugh, wife of Matthew McHugh.

Our father was also a proud grandfather to Carrie Bukowski, Allie West, Rebecca Reeb, Leah McHugh, and Gabriel McHugh. He also has numerous great-grandchildren. His grandchildren brought him tremendous joy.

For more than 30 years, our dad worked as a Tool and Die Maker for General Motors. He was a hardworking man who believed deeply in providing for his family and doing things the right way.

Our dad was a wonderful man. He was Godly, faithful, and the kind of father every child hopes to have. To us, he was our hero; the man we looked to in times of need and the one we sought counsel from whenever life presented challenges. His guidance, strength, and example shaped our lives in ways we will always be grateful for.

In his later years, our father battled dementia for a long time. Watching that journey was difficult for our family. Yet even as the disease progressed his faith never left him. Many times, we would hear him praising and worshipping Jesus, even when so many other things had faded. That faith was truly at the center of who he was.

There is a passage in scripture that perfectly describes the life our father lived: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7

Those words capture our dad’s life well. He fought the good fight. He ran his race with strength and integrity. And above all, he kept the faith.

We will always be grateful that God chose him to be our father.

He will be deeply missed, but the example he set for his family will live on in all of us.