Arthur Graves "Bill" Hughes Jr.

1923 - 2016

Colonel Arthur Graves Hughes Jr. (Bill) took his last flight on December 8, 2016 after 93 beautiful years of life. Bill, (also known as Colonel, Popeye, Dad, Grandpa and Pop-Pop) was born on March 17, 1923 in Anniston to Arthur G. Hughes Sr. and Flora Knighton Hughes. Bill had several childhood jobs in Anniston, including delivering coal, delivering blocks of ice for the "ice box", delivering ice cream and delivering newspapers. On December 8, 1941, the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bill enlisted in the Army and after learning that being in infantry meant "walking everywhere," he eagerly accepted an opportunity to train to be a pilot in the Army Air Corps, what would eventually be known as the Air Force. While training in Rhode Island, Bill met the love of his life, Lois Ann, on a blind date set up by her sister and brother-in-law. They went to a casino and Bill said he knew Lois was "the one" when she spent all of his nickels on the slot machines. The day he was to deploy overseas to fight in WWII, Bill snuck off post, climbing through a hole in the fence, and took a train to Washington, D.C. where Lois was staying with friends. He proposed to her with "the biggest diamond he could afford" and crawled back through the fence just as the bus was loading up to leave. Bill would spend three years flying missions during WWII in the China Burma India Theater. After the war ended, Bill and Lois were married on her 19th birthday on January 9, 1946 in Washington, D.C. They had two children, Arthur Graves, III (Trey) and Beryl Alice (Cricket). While stationed in Washington, D.C. Bill obtained a Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland. Shortly thereafter, he served as a transport pilot during The Korean War, returning to a position in the Pentagon where he helped guide strategy for the upcoming Vietnam War. The young family moved several times, spending time at Dover AFB in Delaware and Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina. In 1961, the family relocated to San Antonio when Bill was transferred to Lackland AFB. He retired in 1972. During their retirement, Bill and Lois were active in their Shady Oaks neighborhood and Bill was a beloved presence in their community. Bill and Lois spent many years traveling in their RV with their friends in the Renegade RV Group. Bill could be found riding around campgrounds across the country on his little red Honda Spree - always with a cigar in his mouth. When Bill and Lois stopped RVing, they started cruising. Together, they went on more than 30 cruises and visited numerous countries. Traveling together and with family was one of their favorite things to do and Bill always said that, of the places they had seen, Hawaii was his favorite. To all who knew him well or even just in passing, Bill was a ray of sunshine. He was a friend to everyone he met and knew no strangers. Always ready with a quick one-liner, he had an energy that made those around him instantly comfortable. He was always, ALWAYS happy and loved to express that happiness with sayings like, "If I were any better, I'd be twins". Undoubtedly, the sun will shine less brightly without him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Ann Conklin Hughes; sister, Anita Hughes Smith and parents, Arthur G. Hughes Sr. and Flora Knighton Hughes. He is survived by his son, Arthur G. Hughes, III (Trey) and wife, Lela; daughter, Beryl Alice Rose and husband, Tom; granddaughter, Kristina Hernandez and husband, Scott; grandson, Arthur G. Hughes IV (A.G.) and wife, Kelley; great-grandchildren, Brianna, Riley, Haydn, Keller and Clayton. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, John Kester, Rush Kester and Susan Kester Puleo Butcher. Memorial service will be Friday, December 30, 2016, at 12 p.m. at Porter Loring North Chapel. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Operation K9, at www.operationk9.org. You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.porterloring.com. Arrangements with PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH 2102 NORTH LOOP 1604 E SAN ANTONIO, TX 78232 (210) 495-8221