Hugh R. Hughes

Hugh R. “Bob” Hughes, 83 of New Holland, died Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at Maple Farm, Akron, after a brief battle with cancer.

Born in Chicago, IL, on Nov. 17, 1929, he was the son of the late Hugh R. and Doris E. (Pruitt) Hughes. He was married 60 years on Dec. 6 to Annette (McGlave) Hughes.

Bob worked in sales for many years with Ingersoll Rand and retired in 1979 and later retiring in 1992 after five years of service, with the New Holland Post Office.

He served with the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines during the Korean War and was a member of the New Holland American Legion Post 662. At the age of 16 he was a Sea Going Cowboy delivering horses to Denmark and Poland.

He also was a passionate bee keeper and a bee inspector in Pennsylvania along with operating Rainbow Apiaries and selling honey and sharing his love of bee keeping at his farm in East Earl. He enjoyed volunteering at the Ephrata Hospital, teaching Tai Chi classes in the evenings at Garden Spot High School, studying Asian culture, gardening, sailing, and helping with 4H with his children and grandchildren.

Surviving in addition to his wife are three children, David Hughes, and fiancé Michelle Buzzard of East Earl, Susan Hughes of Catawissa, and William, married to Tammy (Schnader) Hughes of East Earl; five grandchildren, Alexis, Jennifer, Courtney, Samuel, and Jared; and three great grandchildren, Rylee, Larsen, and Hailey.

There will be no funeral service however viewing will be held at the Groff-High Funeral Home, 145 W. Main St., New Holland, on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 2-4 pm. Interment will be in the Center Union Cemetery at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, or to the American Cancer Society, 314 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17603. To send the family online condolences visit us at www.groffeckenroth.com.