William R Hughes

William Rodney Hughes, Ph.D., passed away the morning of 31 Aug 2023 in his own bed surrounded by family and supported by hospice. He is survived by his wife Betty Hughes née Keller, daughter Jan (Jim) Murphy, son Jeff (Julia) Hughes, grandchildren Kyle (Renée) Murphy, Katharine Murphy, Samantha Hughes, Jackson Bush, Bennett Hughes, Natalie Hughes, and great grandchildren Cassandra Murphy, Lenora Searfoss, Joanna Searfoss and Arthur Murphy.

William was born in the “home place”, a farm on the Ohio River, up the bank from the Kanauga Railroad Station near Gallipolis.

His father was James Ansel Hughes and his mother was Eleanor Mae Hughes née Davison. The other children in his family were James Arthur Hughes (deceased), Gene Alfred Hughes (deceased), and a half-brother, Edward Ansel Hughes (deceased). A baby sister born first was lost shortly after birth. William was the oldest boy.

The name William is an old family name. His mother was reading an English novel near the time of his birth and one of the characters in the book was named Rodney. She liked the name Rodney, so that became his middle name and his common name used by family when he was younger. As an adult he preferred “Bill”.

William’s work ethic was forged early. He started milking cows when he was eight years old (by hand) in the morning and evening. He had to feed and water the chickens, pigs, and cattle. On Monday mornings, in the summer, it was his job to bring the horses in from the pasture to the barn as they were kept in the barn during the week. The horses were always in the farthest part of the pasture, and his pant legs would be soaked from dew from wading through the tall grass. In the summer, he would have to hoe corn, help with the haymaking, and help with the vegetable garden. In the fall, he would help husk corn by hand.

Because they were relatively isolated, the brothers spent most their time together. Games were made up and sometimes rough. They never went near the river – they had been warned over and over that it was dangerous. However, a creek flowed through the farm and the boys played in the creek.

William was always keen to watch the barges go up and down the river. During the World War II years, there was a ship building plant on the West Virginia side of the Ohio river where the boys were thrilled to see the finished ships slide down the ramp into the river, on their way to be deployed for combat.

William was enrolled in the Addison Elementary School at age 5 (1941). The school consisted of a two-room schoolhouse about a mile west of Addison and a one room school building beside the Methodist Church in Addison. Luxuries were few, but he and his brothers always got a new pair of shoes when school started. Most times being barefoot was the norm. And the preference.

In 1943, Eleanor Hughes (mother) died, and the family was separated temporarily. William stayed at home with his father and grandmother while brothers Jim and Gene spent time at the home of their aunt and uncle, Lewis and Virginia Hughes. This was a very difficult time for the family.

In 1944, James Hughes (father) remarried. He married Dorothy Mercer who was teaching school in a neighboring district. Because of ill health, Dorothy’s father and mother, Emmett and Elizabeth Mercer, came to live with the family.

In 1948, the “home place” on the Ohio River was sold and the family moved to a farm in Liberty Township in Fairfield County (Blacklick Road). William was just finishing the seventh grade at the time of the move. He then enrolled in the Millersport Schools.

William did well in school, receiving several academic honors and awards. He played basketball, lettering in his junior and senior years. He was involved in the school theatrical productions. However, working after school for a neighbor did not allow for a great deal of time for other school involvements.

During high school, William began to date Betty Keller. That relationship continued on to marriage. William died one week short of their 66th wedding anniversary.

William enrolled at Ohio University after graduation in 1953. He attended Ohio University for two years. Money was scarce – after two years, the money that had been saved for college was gone and there were few prospects in sight.

William enlisted in the Army in 1955. Recognizing his intellect, the Army trained him in advanced electronics and deployed him to Korea where he served as a radar technician in the Inchon area. He served under the ASCOM (Army Service Command). His unit was the 578th Radar Detachment attached to the 19th Ordnance Company. Their mission was to provide radar repair support for the antiaircraft batteries located around Inchon Harbor. He was released from active duty in 1957 and returned to Millersport. He remained in the Reserves as an NCO until his honorable discharge in 1961.

In 1957, William and Betty were married in Fletcher Chapel Church where they attended. After a short honeymoon, they began married life in a rented house in Millersport next to the doctor’s office where Betty worked as a nurse.

With some money saved, William enrolled in the Ohio State University in the College of Education. He completed the junior year of college. In 1958, there was a severe teacher shortage in the state. He was approached by a local superintendent about teaching school. A baby was due soon which prompted him to take the job. The superintendent arranged for a temporary teaching certificate and in the fall of 1958, William began teaching science and mathematics at Pleasantville High School. William continued to attend Ohio State to complete his degree, awarded in 1960.

In 1961, William was awarded a fellowship at Ohio State (National Science Foundation) for graduate study in science. He completed his Master of Education degree in 1962. After teaching at Millersport High School for a year, he was employed at Bexley High School in suburban Columbus to teach science and mathematics. He was selected to serve as science department chairperson.

In 1962, William and Betty decided to build a house of their own. They bought nine acres from the Wolf’s on Lecrone Avenue in Millersport. They had a local builder construct a home for them on the hill on the land that had been purchased. They moved into the new home in 1962.

In 1971, William received another National Science Foundation Fellowship for doctoral study and enrolled in the Ohio State University Doctoral Program. With further help from the extension of the G.I. Bill, study continued for two years, and the doctoral degree was awarded in 1973.

William and Betty sold the Millersport home to her sister Judy in the fall of 1973 and moved to Bexley (Euclair Avenue). The family lived in Bexley for a year. In the meantime, William had been offered a position at Gallaudet College (Model Secondary School for the Deaf) in Science Curriculum Development. So, in 1974, the family moved to Northern Virginia (Reston/Herndon).

William worked in Science Curriculum for about a year. An administrative position opened at the school and he became an assistant principal there.

In 1976, he was asked to return to Columbus to assist the Mount Carmel Hospital as they set up their physician in-service programs and to supervise all of the educational programs. So, the family returned to Ohio and bought a home in Granville, Ohio. Jan and Jeff enrolled in Granville High School from which they graduated.

There was an opportunity for a principal’s position at Millersport High School and William was hired for that position in 1978. In 1986, a superintendent’s position became available in West Alexandria, Ohio (Twin Valley Schools) and William was employed as superintendent. William and Betty moved to West Alexandria in 1986.

In 1989, William completed 30 years in the Ohio Public Schools and decided to take early retirement and teach at a college. He was employed by Ashland University as a member of the College of Education faculty. In addition to serving as an administrator (Assistant Dean, Educational Administration chair), he taught courses in the undergraduate and graduate areas. He moved through the academic ranks and became a Professor of Education. He was active in campus affairs, speaking nationally at multiple conferences, and published 19 journal articles. He received several teaching awards while at Ashland University.

Family was important to William. On 8 September 2007, a party was given to celebrate Betty and Bill’s 50th wedding anniversary. The extended family gathered at Mohican State Park for outdoor fun and at the Malabar Farm Inn for a celebratory dinner.

William retired from Ashland University in 2001. William and Betty had moved to Beavercreek, Ohio the year before.

William volunteered at the National Museum of the United States Air Force for a number of years. He and Betty volunteered at the Dayton Art institute until the COVID pandemic forced them to stop. Both he and Betty continued to be active in the St. Andrew United Methodist Church. Always the educator, he continued to teach advanced religious studies under the guise of Sunday School until 2022.

A memorial visitation for William will be held Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at David's Community Mausoleum, 4600 Mad River Road, Dayton, Ohio 45429. Following the memorial visitation will be a memorial service at 1:00 PM at David's Memorial Mausoleum, 4600 Mad River Road, Dayton, Ohio 45429.

William will be laid to rest in David's Cemetery, 4600 Mad River Rd., Dayton, Ohio.

Betty requests that in lieu of flowers please consider donating to The William & Betty Hughes Endowed Scholarship Fund, Ashland University (419.289.5620 / [email protected]).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tobias-fh.com for the Hughes family.