William Raymond Hughes, 83

 

 

William Raymond Hughes of West North Street, Ballston Spa, died suddenly Friday, Jan. 25, at Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he was being treated for a torn aorta suffered a week earlier. He was born at the family farm on March 20, 1924 in Granville, the son of William R. Hughes and Margaret Elizabeth (Lily) Hughes. His family on both sides immigrated to America from North Wales.

 

 

 He attended school in Granville before leaving to work at General Electric in Schenectady, where he was employed from June 1942 until his retirement from the gas turbine department in March 1985. In his retirement years, he was an avid bicycle rider and motorcyclist. He was a loving father and grandfather who greatly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and, in recent years, traveling to Florida to be with his daughter.

 

 He was a member of the Middle Granville Presbyterian Church and worshiped at the Malta Ridge Methodist Church.

 

 He was an Army veteran of World War II, departing for basic training in Camp Upton, Long Island, on January 9, 1943. After training in North Carolina, he shipped out from New York in December. In June of 1944, he participated in the Normandy Invasion as a member of the 225^th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion. In 1945, he volunteered for the 82^nd Airborne Division and became a paratrooper. At the time the war ended, he was stationed at Camp Stoneman in California, preparing for the planned invasion of Japan. He served in England, France and Germany throughout the duration of the war and was discharged on Dec. 15, 1945.

 

 He was the widower of Edythe Arabelle Forlaw Hughes, who died in April 2005. They were married on June 30, 1950 at Fisher Methodist Church in Schenectady. He is survived by his daughter, Meribeth Arabelle Hughes of St. Petersburg, Fla; son Raymond Kyle Hughes, daughter-in-law Margaret Elizabeth McIntyre and grandchildren Miranda Rae McIntyre Hughes and Gavin Allistair McIntyre Hughes of Saratoga Springs; his brother Idris Hughes of North Granville, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Catherine Hughes Davies Middleton in 2002.

 

 A memorial service was held on Jan. 31 at Armer Funeral Home, Inc 39 East High St, Ballston Spa. In accordance with his wishes he will be cremated and his ashes interred in the family plot at the Middle Granville cemetery. He asked that any donations in his memory be made to charity.

 

 

Comments

comments

Tags: Albany Medical Center, Army Veteran, Ballston Spa, World War Ii