H.L. "Buddy" Hughes - an 83 year-old native of Tuscaloosa, AL and a resident of Mobile since 1948 died at his home on Thursday, February 28, 2008. Mr. Hughes was a World War II veteran of the United States Naval Air Corps where he served as a pilot. He graduated from the University of Alabama, School of Engineering where he was subsequently selected an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Hughes pioneered air conditioning distribution in the central gulf coast region as one of the owners of Equipment Sales Corporation, distributing Carrier Air Conditioning equipment. He was a longtime member of Spring Hill Baptist Church. Mr. Hughes will be remembered for his extraordinary sense of humor, as a man of honor, and as a devoted family man. He was a supporter of the Alabama Crimson Tide. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, spending many happy hours in pursuit of these interests with his best friend and brother, Bill Hughes, and their families. Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by his parents, Arley and Virginia Hughes, and brother, Harvey Hughes. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Evelyn Hughes; three sons, H. Lee (Stephanie) Hughes of Mobile, Larry W. (Kathy) Hughes of Daphne, and J. Allen (Nancy) Hughes of Mobile; sister, Louise Davis of Dahlonega, GA; brother, A.E. "Bill" (Gloria) Hughes of Mobile; five grandchildren, John M. Hughes of Perdido Key, FL, David A. (Tasha) Hughes of Mobile, Mary Lauren Hughes of Daphne, Caroline E. Hughes of Mobile and G. Brock Hughes of Mobile; two great-grandchildren, John-Paul M. Hughes of Perdido Key, FL and S. Lauren Hughes of Mobile; close friend and caregiver, Brenda Shavers; other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held from the chapel at Spring Hill Baptist Church on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 beginning at 10 a.m. with Dr. Drew J. Gunnells, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends at Radney Funeral Home on Monday evening from 5-8 p.m. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens. Serving as pallbearers will be A.E. "Bill" Hughes, H. Lee Hughes, Larry W. Hughes, J. Allen Hughes, John M. Hughes, and David A. Hughes. Honorary pallbearers are Frank Raue, Jack Cumbest, S.C. Matheney, Robert Goram, Melvin Smith, Garrett Smith, Wayne Keith, Chuck Keith, and Cecil Halbert. Arrangements by RADNEY FUNERAL HOME, 3155 Dauphin St., Ext., Mobile, AL 36606
Published in the Mobile Register, Mobile, Alabama from 3/1/2008 - 3/2/2008.