Robert Eugene Hughes died peacefully on October 16, 2023 at the venerable age of 100 years and 8 months after visiting with family that day.  Long-time resident of Duxbury and Plymouth, and faithful member of North Community Church for over three decades, he is survived by his four children and their partners, Glenn Douglas, Stephen Everett and Carmella, Annette Louise and Richard, and Alexia Jean and John, grandchildren Kathryn, Douglas, Jeannette and Gregory, and great-grandchildren Owen, Liam and August, as well as much loved nieces and nephews.

Born in Akron, OH on February 1, 1923, to Jess and Minnie Wright Hughes, with older sister Doris and younger brother Richard predeceasing him.  During the Depression he and his brother spent two years in a TB Sanitorium (Sunshine Cottage).   Growing up in a happy family, despite these privations, he ran a paper route for most of his youth.  He graduated high school in January 1941 and started working at General Tire making ropes for barrage balloons.

As WWII progressed, he enlisted in the army, eventually serving in the Army Air Corps. Bob served 33 missions as a navigator on a B24 bomber based in Attlebridge in eastern England.  After the war, he started college on the GI Bill at Case Western, but moved to NYC and found work at Westinghouse, 40 Wall Street, finally finishing his Engineering degree at Hofstra University.  He met the love of his life, Jean Douglas Eberhard, on a blind date in NYC.  They married on Dec. 17, 1949, and raised their family in Levittown and North Babylon, NY; Wigston England; Beirut Lebanon; Cobham England; Pittsburgh PA; and Duxbury MA.  He loved to travel the world and befriended many people of different cultures and nationalities.

After retirement, Bob and Jean moved to what had been her aunt's house in Duxbury and led a rich and fulfilling life volunteering on Dana Farber's Climb Against Cancer, Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation, and supporting North Community Church in Marshfield in a multitude of roles.  Bob always took great pains to stay in touch with friends and family from all phases of their life.

During his last four years, Bob developed new friendships with staff at Newfield House, while maintaining close ties with the NCC community. Most of all, Bob enjoyed his family time, with holidays celebrations and myriad phone calls and visits.  His 100th birthday was a lively celebration at Newfield with 30 friends and family members.  The Patriot Ledger write-up was shared with enthusiasm showing him in his uniform.

Bob exhibited an irrepressible vitality and love for people and far-off places all his life and surmounted all challenges with humor mixed with determination and grit.  If you were the recipient of Bob's friendship or love, you know to count yourself as one of the luckiest of this earth.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation.  The website with a link for donations is https://raziasrayofhope.org/