Deacon Harold Hughesdon

Died Peacefully at Home on Friday, June 29, 2012 Age 91. He was preceded in death by his brother, Flying Officer P. G. (Lex) Hughesdon, RAF, in 1945; his father, Percy Hughesdon, in 1956; his mother, Helen Upton Hughesdon, in 1981; and his beloved wife of 62 years, Dolores Ettel Hughesdon, in 2007. He is survived by three daughters: Helen Mary Hughesdon, Martha (Charles) Turner, and Cathy (Kent) Edwards; two sons: Peter G. (Beckie) Hughesdon and Joseph (Angela) Hughesdon; ten grand-children: Michael (Nisha) Turner; Liz Edwards (Scott) Hewitt and Maggie, Peter, and Nicholas Edwards; Jessica Hughesdon; and Andrew, Grace, Peter V. and James Hughesdon; two great-grandchildren: Laila and Owen Hewitt; and "adopted" daughter, Helen Wagner. Following his education at the Westminster Cathedral Choir School and Clapham College in London, he joined the RAF and attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant. During World War II, he was apilot and a flight instructor. After the war, he and Dolores moved to St. Paul, MN, where he earned a BS in chemistry from St. Thomas College and an MA in library science from the U of M. He became a librarian at St. Thomas and taught physics, chemistry, and library science there and at the College of St. Catherine until he began his 3M career in 1955. He worked primarily in the international division and retired in 1988 as director of 3M international's intellectual property portfolio, a job that used his science background, his knowledge of several European languages, and his patent law expertise, acquired in part while he coauthored An Outline of United States Patent Law (lnterscience, 1959). Ordained a deacon in 1981, he served St. Agnes Parish in that capacity for 30 years, primarily as master of ceremonies and trainer of altar servers; he also ministered to the sick and the elderly at Bethesda nursing home and Marian Center. His family is grateful to Dr. James Giefer for the expertise and understanding he showed while caring for both Harold and Dolores and to Ann Koenig Anaya for all she did to make their lives pleasant and comfortable, especially during their last years. Visitation at Willwerscheid and Peters Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-228-1006 from 4-7PM on Monday, July 2, 2012; Requiem Mass at the Church of St. Agnes, Lafond and Kent, at 10AM on Tuesday, July 3, 2012. Memorials preferred to the Church of St. Agnes or the University of St. Thomas.