Celebrating the life of
William Howard Hughes
November 29, 1921 - January 20, 2014
SAVANNAH - William Howard Hughes, 92, died January 20, 2014 in Savannah under the care of Hospice Savannah.
Mr. Hughes was born November 29, 1921 in Savannah and had resided in his beloved Isle of Hope since 1971.
During World War ll he proudly enlisted in the Eighth Air Force, 452nd Bomb Group, and was stationed at Deopham Air Base, England. After his grandchildren, it was his proudest accomplishment.
He was a 1950 graduate of Georgia Tech with degrees in mechanical and industrial engineering, and had a long career that included plant engineering, machine design, and foundry engineering. He retired from Ductile Iron Company and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Immediately after the war, however, he had trained as a watchmaker, and in his later years resumed watchmaking and repair. His pastime soon became his passion.
Mr. Hughes was a member of Isle of Hope Baptist Church since 1971, and was a tireless volunteer on numerous building projects of the church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester Arthur and Cora Lee Hughes, his wife Madelene Threatt Hughes, and his son-in-law, Rodney J. Hall.
He is survived by his daughters, Donna Hall and Cindy Rochefort Michael; grandchildren, Ashley Hall and Emily and Patrick Rochefort; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visitation will be Thursday, January 23, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
Funeral Service will be Friday, January 24 at 11:00 a.m. at Isle of Hope Baptist Church, with internment to follow in the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
Remembrances to The Vision of Hope Building Fund, Isle of Hope Baptist Church, 22 Rose Avenue, Savannah, Georgia 31406.
Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com
I was very sorry to hear that Howard passed away. My sincerest condolences to the whole family. He was a very good friend to my father, Joseph, and a lovely man. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
- Judith Hoffman, , - Other
May the Good Lord wrap His Loving Arms around you during this time of grief. We have really enjoyed knowing Howard and talking to him all the time at gymnastics about everything from watches, his grandchildren, and his life Mechelle interviewed him for a class project. He was a good man. He will be missed.
- Dean, Cheryl, Mechelle Hunter, Savannah, GA
Donna and Cindy, We were saddened to hear about the death of your father. Howard was a dear friend of ours as was your mother. He worked on many clocks for us. We saw him at Isle of Hope Church the last time we were there which was in June at the homecoming. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your families........Charles and Nan Bell
- Charles and Nan Bell, Jackson, TN
Cindy and Donna and families , we are so sorry to here about Mr Howard. He was such a pleasant person and it was always a pleasure to see and visit with him. I know you each will miss him dearly. He was so proud of each of you. We were blessed to have known him praying for each of you Gaye, Todd and Caitlyn Cook
- Gaye Cook, bluffton, SC
I feel blessed to have known and worked with Howard. What a pleasant person.
- Joe Kreger, Savannah, GA
Donna and Ashley, I am so sorry for your loss. You all are in my prayers. I will always remember Mr. Hughes picking up Ashley from lower school in the afternoons. He was so sweet! I can still hear Ashley call him, 'my Howard'.
- Cindy Nielubowicz Burnsed, Richmond Hill, GA
Howard was our neighbor and friend for many years and he was an inspiration to our entire street. He lived life well and we will miss his friendly, engaging personality. More than anything he loved to talk about his family-he was so proud of each one of you. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers. Our loss is heaven's gain.
- Sherri Goodman, Savannah, GA
Donna, I am so saddened to hear of the loss of your Father. May God help guide you and your family through this difficult time. I will add you and the family to my nightly Prayer list.
- David Schiller, Savannah, GA
A friend of mine from the old 'DICOA' family.I am sure a great father and grandfather.He spoke of his family often. God bless.
- Robert Nelson, Savannah, GA
Donna and Ashley, I'm so sorry to hear about Howard. He was quite the character and will be missed. My thoughts are with you.
- Tiffany Brooks, Savannah, GA
With love from the Hughes family, you will be missed.
- Mary and Bud Hughes, Portwentworth, GA
Donna, I'm so sorry to hear about Howard. I know he will be missed, but he is in a better place. May God bless you, Ashley and your family. 'Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. -II Corinthians 5:8'
- Kevin Wilcox, Birmingham, AL
Donna and Ashley, I am just heartbroken over the loss of sweet Howard. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Much love and sympathy.
- Angela Lamson, Pooler, GA
Cindy, Donna, Michael and family members, Howard was a great man here on earth but is an asset to the Heaven above!!! God needed another angel and he picked a great one. Loss is hard but time will make it easier because of the good memories he has made. Keep smiling because he is happy now!!!
- Harry and Sherri Connolly, Savannah, GA
Donna and Ashley - so sorry that Howard is gone. What a wonderful father and grandfather! I was so fond of him. He reminded me so much of my Dad. My heart and prayers are with you both.
- Nancy Frankenhauser, Tybee island, GA
Donna and family, I am so sorry for your loss. May you find strength and comfort in the many awesome and wonderful memories of your dad. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. With deepest sympathy and love, Lynn
- Lynn Wells Troughton, Savannah, GA
I was very sorry to hear that Howard passed away. My sincerest condolences to the whole family. He was a very good friend to my father, Joseph, and a lovely man. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
- Judith Hoffman, , - Other -
May the Good Lord wrap His Loving Arms around you during this time of grief. We have really enjoyed knowing Howard and talking to him all the time at gymnastics about everything from watches, his grandchildren, and his life Mechelle interviewed him for a class project. He was a good man. He will be missed.
- Dean, Cheryl, Mechelle Hunter, Savannah, GA
Donna and Cindy, We were saddened to hear about the death of your father. Howard was a dear friend of ours as was your mother. He worked on many clocks for us. We saw him at Isle of Hope Church the last time we were there which was in June at the homecoming. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your families........Charles and Nan Bell
- Charles and Nan Bell, Jackson, TN
Cindy and Donna and families , we are so sorry to here about Mr Howard. He was such a pleasant person and it was always a pleasure to see and visit with him. I know you each will miss him dearly. He was so proud of each of you. We were blessed to have known him praying for each of you Gaye, Todd and Caitlyn Cook
- Gaye Cook, bluffton, SC
I feel blessed to have known and worked with Howard. What a pleasant person.
- Joe Kreger, Savannah, GA
Donna and Ashley, I am so sorry for your loss. You all are in my prayers. I will always remember Mr. Hughes picking up Ashley from lower school in the afternoons. He was so sweet! I can still hear Ashley call him, 'my Howard'.
- Cindy Nielubowicz Burnsed, Richmond Hill, GA
Howard was our neighbor and friend for many years and he was an inspiration to our entire street. He lived life well and we will miss his friendly, engaging personality. More than anything he loved to talk about his family-he was so proud of each one of you. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers. Our loss is heaven's gain.
- Sherri Goodman, Savannah, GA
Donna, I am so saddened to hear of the loss of your Father. May God help guide you and your family through this difficult time. I will add you and the family to my nightly Prayer list.
- David Schiller, Savannah, GA
A friend of mine from the old 'DICOA' family.I am sure a great father and grandfather.He spoke of his family often. God bless.
- Robert Nelson, Savannah, GA
Donna and Ashley, I'm so sorry to hear about Howard. He was quite the character and will be missed. My thoughts are with you.
- Tiffany Brooks, Savannah, GA
With love from the Hughes family, you will be missed.
- Mary and Bud Hughes, Portwentworth, GA
Donna, I'm so sorry to hear about Howard. I know he will be missed, but he is in a better place. May God bless you, Ashley and your family. 'Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. -II Corinthians 5:8'
- Kevin Wilcox, Birmingham, AL
Donna and Ashley, I am just heartbroken over the loss of sweet Howard. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Much love and sympathy.
- Angela Lamson, Pooler, GA
Cindy, Donna, Michael and family members, Howard was a great man here on earth but is an asset to the Heaven above!!! God needed another angel and he picked a great one. Loss is hard but time will make it easier because of the good memories he has made. Keep smiling because he is happy now!!!
- Harry and Sherri Connolly, Savannah, GA
Donna and Ashley - so sorry that Howard is gone. What a wonderful father and grandfather! I was so fond of him. He reminded me so much of my Dad. My heart and prayers are with you both.
- Nancy Frankenhauser, Tybee island, GA
Donna and family, I am so sorry for your loss. May you find strength and comfort in the many awesome and wonderful memories of your dad. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. With deepest sympathy and love, Lynn
- Lynn Wells Troughton, Savannah, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
