Col. James (Jim) Hughes, 84 of Magnolia, Arkansas died Monday, June 4, 2012 at the Magnolia Regional Medical Center in Magnolia. He was born June 11, 1927 in Hazleton, Iowa to the late Raymond and Ruth Hughes.
Jim retired as Colonel from the United States Air Force on September 1, 1973. He served 25 years and 2 months in the military during WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War starting out after leaving his high school graduation ceremonies for boot camp in the United States Navy in 1945. He later joined the United States Air Force as an Aviation Cadet where he flew many airplanes as a pilot, test pilot, and instructor. He was a fighter pilot flying the F-105 Thunderchief aircraft and on May 5, 1967 on his 55th combat mission Jim was shot down and taken captive by the North Vietnamese and spent the next 6 years at the Hanoi Hilton P.O.W. Camp. He was released March 4, 1973. Jim has received the Prisoner of War Medal, Bronze Star Medal with V Device, 2 Purple Heart Medals and numerous other service medals. Because of his military service he was inducted into the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame and a Cottage was named in his honor at Wentworth Place.
Jim was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Columbia County Republican Committee, the current Executive Director of the Miss Magnolia Pageant, and former owner of Kathy's Dance Arts Studio. He was a past member of PIE as school coordinator, and the past president of the UAMS College of Medicine Parents Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father in law Sam and Estelle Barnett; and a brother Robert Hughes.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, whom he married on June 7, 1975, Paula Hughes of Magnolia; loving daughter, Dawn Hughes Butler and husband Roby of Little Rock; sisters-in-law, Jena Creech and husband Louis of Stamps, Nancy Pate and husband James of Waldo, Sue Beard and husband Maurice of Lafayette, Louisiana; brother-in-law, John Barnett and wife Janice of Magnolia; brothers, Dwight Hughes of Guttenberg, Iowa, Mark Hughes of Iowa; sister, Sheila Bergmann and husband Dennis of Chandler, Arizona; step mother Ethel Hughes of Guttenberg, Iowa; aunt Violet James of Stanley, Iowa; fury friends, Lola and Cerebella; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2012 at the First Baptist Church with Bro. David Watkins officiating. A United States Air Force Military Honor Guard Service will follow at the Antioch East Cemetery under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. of Magnolia. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Honorary pallbearers will be Carter McDonald, Larry Price, Greg Cox, Ken Mederios, Thomas Collins, Rob Butler, and Michael Johnson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Magnolia Specialized Services, 1616 North Vine, Magnolia, AR 71753.
www.lewisfuneralhome.biz
