Captain Louis Hughes, USN, (Ret)

USN (Ret) Captain Louis Hughes, 72, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 27, 2023. Lou, as he was known to all his family and friends, was a decorated veteran who graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1973 and would go on to serve his country for another 30 years on active duty, before retiring in Virginia Beach.

Lou was born on January 20, 1951 in Pennsylvania to George A and Mary Lou (nee Connelly) Hughes. Growing up in Haddonfield, NJ, he was a bright young man, actively involved in multiple sports, scouts and was a car enthusiast. His engineering skills were put to the test early in life as he helped his father finish a second story build out on the family home. With his affinity for engineering, he decided he wanted to go to the Naval Academy for college. For his post college specialty, Lou chose nuclear power with the goal to serve on submarines. Lou would go on to serve on many fast attack boats – he was a plankowner for the USS Bremerton and would later go on to serve as her Captain while she was docked in Hawaii. He also called the USS Ethan Allen, USS Spadefish, USS Flying Fish and USS Memphis home, adding their respective crews to his growing cadre of military friends.

While studying at the Naval Academy, Lou met, and fell for, Deborah Langley. Her sparkling wit, expressive eyes and devil may care personality captured his attention and they would go on to marry after Lou graduated, in June of 1973. The tenure of their relationship would see them transfer to many places, chief among them Hawaii and Virginia Beach. Debbi embraced the military life and always shared her enthusiasm, support and experience with the military spouses she served alongside.

Whether serving in the Navy, running his Bass Cat with his fellow Bassmasters or volunteering on boat tours with the Virginia Marine Science Museum, Lou’s true passion was being out on the water. Fishing, teaching, training – it didn’t matter the activity, his soul was one with the water. His favorite pastime was sharing that love with those around him, no matter the age, and he was especially delighted when his family shared that interest with him.

Lou was known for his wit and wisdom. You could always count on him for a Dad joke, though he loved puns almost as much as he loved his morning coffee. His appreciation of shenanigans is unmatched, especially when his grandchildren were involved. Stay still long enough and he would regale you with tales of his greatest catch, or a story about his grandchildren or that one time he did that one thing that resulted in shorted sheets or a too small poopy suit. His favorite joke to tell was the “tanketty tanketty” joke and he could never get through it all without giggling maniacally.

Lou’s sudden, and unexpected, passing leaves a big hole for his family, his friends and the wonderful community he built with those who shared his love of the water. He is preceded in death by his father, George A Hughes, his mother, Mary Lou Hughes, his father-in-law, Earl Langley and his mother in law, Marguerite Langley. It is nice to think that Lou, his dad and his father-in-law went for a fishing trip immediately upon Lou’s arrival in the afterlife. His memory and spirit live on with his wife, Debbi, children Kelly Shoup (Brent), son Chris, sisters Susan Bigham (John) and Gail Hughes, as well as the nieces and nephews who all called him “Uncle Lou”. His granddaughter, Kaitlyn, will miss her biggest cheerleader and his grandson, Jacob, will miss his best fishing buddy.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 2:00 pm at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA.

Graveside services are pending at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

The family requests that flowers be sent to Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center so that they may continue the good work Lou became so passionate about.