William U. Hughes

William U. "Bill" Hughes, 87, of Dover, died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, in his home, following a short period of declining health.

Born November 26, 1921, in Dover, he was the son of the late Charles and Edith France Hughes. Bill graduated from Dover High School in 1940, and, in 1942, enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. He served his country honorably, both on the Great Lakes and in the South Pacific, where, aboard the U.S.S. L.S.T. 66, he participated in nine amphibious landings. On Christmas Day in 1947, he married the former Wanda Maurer, and together they reared four children. Bill and Wanda celebrated sixty-one years of marriage in 2008.

Bill was employed for nineteen years by the City of Dover in its Electrical Department, and then by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 540, retiring in 1984. In his later years, Bill enjoyed working outdoors, taking care of the yard around his home and his large vegetable garden. He also liked working with wood, and crafting various items for his grandchildren.

Bill was a long-time member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Dover, and the Dover Elks Lodge, where he donated many happy hours serving coffee to his fellow members.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Wanda; his four children, Zoe (Brad) Zimmerman, Mark (Debby) Hughes, and Mary Beth (Mike) Edwards, all of Dover, and Wes (Jodi) Hughes of New Philadelphia; twelve grandchildren, Rachel (Charles) Stuart, Bryan (Robyn) Hughes, Scott (Kasi) Hughes, Andy (Dina) Zimmerman, Mickey Zimmerman, Ben, Adam and Emily Hughes, and Lynn, Anne, Paul and Marcus Edwards; one great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn Marie Hughes, and three more great-grandchildren expected this year.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Lanzer, Charlotte Bertle and Mildred Thomas.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, April 4, at 1:30 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, with Revs. Michael Lowry and Edwin Shriver officiating. Burial will be in Dover Burial Park. Following the committal, there will be a meal in the Fellowship Hall of St. John's Church. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday (today), Apr. 3, 6 9 p.m. An Elks service will be conducted just prior to the visitation at 5:30 p.m. (the public is welcome). To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Bill, please visit the Toland-Herzig Web site and click on Obituaries.

The family suggests that contributions in Bill's memory be made to either St. John's U.C.C. Scholarship Fund or Renovation Fund, 409 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, OH 44622, or, to Hospice of Tuscarawas Co., 201 W. Third St., Dover, OH 44622.

Toland-Herzig, Dover
330-343-6132
www.tolandherzig.com