George R. Hughes, 88, passed away on Friday, April 6, 2018 after several months of declining health. He was born in Ash, NC the eighth of ten children to the late Charles Pinkney Hughes and Caroline Smith Hughes.
George is survived by his wife of 61 years, Vivian Stanley Hughes; sons, Stan (Lisa) and Brad (Rosie); grandchildren, Carson, Chandler and Austin; sister, Lorane Stanley; brother, Vardell Hughes; and many nieces and nephews.
Three years after graduating from Waccamaw High School, he joined the US Air Force. Three of his four years of service were in Birkenfeld, Germany where he was an Air Traffic Controller. After his discharge, he worked at Sunny Point Military Base in Southport, NC.
In 1955, he met Vivian when she came to teach at Waccamaw High, a year later they were married. With the GI Bill available, he decided to further his education and enrolled at Campbell Jr. College (University). After a year, he transferred to NC State College (University) where he earned his undergraduate degree in Horticulture in 1960. For the next three years Elizabeth City became home where he served as Assistant Extensions Agriculture Agent and enjoyed working with the Pasquotank farmers.
In 1963, when an opportunity opened at NC State, he and Vivian moved back to Raleigh. His horticulture studies led to an emphasis in cucurbits. His expertise in cucumber production eventually took him around the world.
When he retired in 1986, as Head of Extension of Horticulture, he continued to help Cates and Mt. Olive Pickle companies with cucumber production. It was during these years that he did most of his international work- Sri Lanka, Uganda, Egypt, Moldova, Honduras and Nicaragua. He also hosted many international visitors. Even with a busy schedule he always found time to return to Brunswick Co. and his Sunset Beach cottage, spending time with his family and friends.
A service to celebrate George's life will be held Tuesday, April 10th at 1:00 pm at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. You are invited to visit with the family in the church parlor after the service. Burial will be at a later date in Ash, NC at the Hughes Family Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hayes Barton Baptist Church or Children's Home Society of North Carolina.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, St. Mary's Street, Raleigh; www.brownwynneraleigh.com
