On Saturday, November 19, 2022, Jonah Hughes, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away in his sleep quite unexpectedly at the age of eighty-four. He was born on May 10, 1938 in Sterling, Arkansas to Roosevelt Hughes and Maude Parker.
Jonah attended school in Eudora, Arkansas and graduated with honors from Eudora High School High School class of 1955. He immediately volunteered to serve in the United States Navy and did so faithfully for 20 years achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1958 he married his longtime sweetheart, Margaret Willis, and they celebrated 64 years of marriage in June 2022 which produced two daughters, two sons, one granddaughter and one great granddaughter.
During his military career Jonah earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. After honorably retiring from the Navy in 1985 he continued his education by completing a Master of Arts degree in Business Management and Marketing from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his two sisters, Dorothy Mae Steele and Annie McIntyre Brown; his two sons, Michael Earl Hughes and Brian Douglas Hughes.
Jonah is survived by his wife, Margaret Willis Hughes; his brother, Harry H. Parker and his wife Elaine, San Diego, CA; his daughters, Gwendolyn Hughes, Prosper, TX and Belinda Jo Hughes, St. Pete, FL; granddaughter, Ashely Sheray Hughes, Prospect, TN; great granddaughter, Brianna Rae Hughes, Louisville, KY; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other beloved relatives.
Jonah was first and foremost a devout man of God, never wavering in his devotion and ministry to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He studied and practiced the precepts of God while serving to his utmost in church. He surrounded himself with likeminded men of God in order to remain strong. His best friends were pastors, deacons, trustees, and fellow workers in the Kingdom of God.
After Jonah retired from the Navy, he went on to have a distinguished career in hospital administration first with Garden State Hospital as Director of Purchasing followed by many years with Humana Inc. as Director, National Contracts and finally ending his corporate career with the Daughters of Charity National Health System as Vice President of Purchasing Services.
He loved his family and ensured that his children had opportunities he never had as a child. He loved vacationing with his friends and especially traveling the world to all the ports his visited as a young sailor. He and Margaret traveled the world on luxurious cruses with their friends and really enjoyed their retired life.
Jonah was a great history buff and especially enjoyed reading, politics, movies, plays and family reunions. He remained close to his Navy buddies.
He also gave to many charities including the, Salvation Army, Catholic Relief Service, Hope Clinic McKinney, Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors, North TX Food Bank, American Red Cross, St. Jude, Alzheimer’s Association, and Feeding America.
He received many honors and accolades in his lifetime which are too numerous to list here.
Jonah Hughes lived his life to the fullest. We that remain can rest in the knowledge that he fought a good fight he finished his course and is now in the arms of Jesus!
2 Timothy 4:7-8
The service will be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Johah’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/jonah-hughes.