February 11, 1947 – July 5, 2023
Robert Ray “Lightning” Hughes, 76, of Bedford passed away on July 5, 2023, at IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
Born on February 11, 1947, he was the son of George and Lyvada (McCory) Hughes. He married Velda Jane Zigler on March 18, 1969, and she survives.
Lightning graduated from Tunnelton High School in 1965. He was a U.S. Airforce Veteran and a member of the Disabled Veterans Wish Foundation. He retired from the City of Bedford and was a co-owner of a tree trimming service. He also helped start SICIL, an advocacy group for people with disabilities around Indiana.
Surviving Lightning is his wife, Jane; daughter, Christina (Toby) Emmons; grandchildren, Jessica Fortner, Andrew Emmons, Cassy (John) Burton, Jared (Gianna) Burcham, and Jordan (Hannah) Burcham; great grandchildren, Gabrielle (Doug) Emmons, Isaac (Marissa) Emmons, Adrianna Lloyd, Serinity Jaggers, Kody Fortner, Koral Fortner, Krystina Fortner, Cash Burton, Waylon Burton, Jaxon Burton, and Xander Burton; great-great grandson, Dallas Fleener; and several nieces and nephews.
Lightning is preceded in death by his parents, George and Lyvada; his daughter, Rhonda (Greg) Burcham; five sisters, Genevieve (Charles) Flinn, Wonita (James) Sullivan, Nancy Hughes in infancy, Charlette (Wayne) Miller, and Carolyn Sue (Gene) Chaney; and four brothers, Samuel (Carla) Hughes, Stanley (Dorothy) Hughes, George A. (Elta Mae) Hughes Jr., and Ollie (Joann) Hughes.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at the Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne George Family Funeral Homes with Clarence Brown and Johnny Herald officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the American Legion Gillen Post #33. Burial will follow at Dive Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday July 10, 2023, also at the Ferguson-Lee Chapel.
Contributions in memory of Lightning may be made to the Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford.
Remembrances and condolences can be shared online at www.FergusonLee.com.
