Thomas Hughes Jr.

Dr. Thomas H. Hughes Jr. passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

He was born on Sept. 9, 1932, in Beards Fork, WV, to Thomas H. Hughes and Hetty Velma Line Hughes, and married Margaret F. Gates on April 4, 1958. Dr. Hughes graduated from Williamsburg (WV) High School in 1950 and served in the U.S. Army before attending Georgetown College (KY), obtaining a Bachelor's degree in education.

He taught chemistry and music at Chatteroy (WV) High School before being admitted to the University of Louisville School of Dentistry, graduating in 1962.

Upon graduation, Dr. Hughes and his wife moved to Hillsboro, where he began his career as a dentist in 1969, eventually retiring in 1986. It was during this time that he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Lt. Colonel, and established the dental program at Wright-Patterson AFB. His retirement lasted only five years before he opened another dental practice in the village of New Market in 1991. He retired for a final time in 1997.

Dr. Hughes was known locally as "the singing dentist." He sang at many weddings and funerals for his patients. Besides singing, Tom had other hobbies such as restoring and showing classic cars, fishing, beekeeping, owning and flying airplanes, riding motorcycles, and traveling in his R.V. He and Margaret wintered in Florida for almost 25 years. Tom was actively involved in his church and was a member of the Masonic Highland Lodge #38 for over 60 years.

Thomas H. Hughes Jr. is survived by children Sandra Hughes of Arizona, Ellen (Cory) Olson of Colorado, Jennifer Hughes of Cincinnati, and Tom (Sharon) Hughes of Hillsboro. He is also survived by grandchildren Jordan Olson, Calleigh Olson, Justin Hatfield, and Jonathan Hatfield.

A special thank you goes out to the staff and residents of Trustwell Living at Bell Gardens in Hillsboro for their care and love. They became his second family and he loved them all dearly and they loved him.

The family expresses their thanks to the staff of Hospice of Hope for the care and compassion shown to Dr. Hughes during his final days.

In Tom's memory, donations may be made to Hospice of Hope at www.hospiceofhope.org. A private burial will take place at the New Market Cemetery at the family's convenience. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.