David Willis Hughes

David Willis Hughes, Lieutenant Colonel United States Army Retired gave up his unconquerable soul to God on Friday, May 20, 2011, after a brief illness and 94 years of life. Born on February 3, 1917 in Galveston, Texas, he pursued and completed a BS in Chemistry at Louisiana State University, but his country called, and he served in World War II with distinction, courage, and honor, earning a Bronze Star and numerous other decorations. After the war, he met his wife, Wanda Zane Reed, and continued with the Army until receiving the Legion of Merit and retiring in 1966, whereupon he moved to Orlando, Florida, and concluded another successful career with the then-Martin Marietta defense contractor. Declining health caused him to move to Fort Collins in 2010, where he spent the last year of his life in curmudgeonly retirement. He is predeceased by a sister, Grace Hughes; his father, James Graham Hughes; his mother, Reba Hughes; an older sister, Mary Smith and a brother-in-law, Joseph Smith; and his wife of 63 years, Wanda Reed Hughes, who died on March 3, 2011. He is survived by: his son, Brian Reed Hughes of Panama City Beach, Florida; two grandsons; his niece, Mary Grace Coming and nephew, Peter Smith, both of Ft. Collins. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Cremains of David and his wife, Wanda will be buried in a Military Ceremony in Florida.