Ronald Douglas Hughes

"Ron enjoyed a long and happy life. He will be missed by all the people whose lives he touched."Ronald Douglas Hughes, 79, celebrated life from May 13, 1939 - March 1, 2019. His life began in Covington, KY and ended unexpectedly in a Phoenix hospital. Ron was the son of William and Hildreth (McLoney) Hughes.He was a graduate of Dixie Heights High School in Fort Mitchell, KY. Ron joined the United States Air Force in 1962 and studied Russian Language at Syracuse University and at Goodfellow AFB in Texas. He served his country during the Vietnam War as a Russian Linguist based in Japan and was honorably discharged in 1965. After the Air Force, Ron excelled academically at the University of Kentucky, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry in 1968.Ron worked as a Chemist with Ashland Chemical for more than 30 years - first in Ashland, KY and then in Newark, CA. Ron retired to Roseville, CA and then later Surprise, AZ.Ron married Phyllis Hall in 1966 and they enjoyed almost 40 years together before Phyllis passed in 2006. Ron was then extremely lucky to have met Siri Poehls of Surprise, AZ in the fall of 2006. They were inseparable until his passing. Ron had many hobbies. He loved to travel his entire life. He visited locations all over the United States as well as around the world. He was an avid Kentucky Wildcats basketball fan. Ron loved genealogy - tracking his family heritage all over Kentucky. He was also a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Order of the Elks, Sons of Norway and the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation. Ron became a member of the American Lutheran Church of Sun City in 2009. Ron is survived by his son Mark Hughes of Sacramento, CA, by his two brothers Charles David (Gloria) Hughes of Cleveland, GA and Alan Lane (Sue) Hughes of Marion, IA, two half-sisters, April Hughes of Wauconda, IL and Karla Schmit of Stockton, CA and by his close friend Siri Poehls of Surprise, AZ. A memorial service for Ron will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, March 15, 2019 at the American Lutheran Church of Sun City located at 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, PO Box 6856 Frankfort, KY 40602. Please put Ron's name in the memo field of check or in attached correspondence. Credit cards are accepted by calling Donna at 502-782-8130.