Charles Edward Hughes

Charles Edward Hughes of Salisbury, known as Chuck by family and friends, passed away on December 9, 2022, at his home. Born September 19, 1940, in the Shenandoah Valley in Waynesboro, Va., he was the oldest child of C. Austin and Maydel Dudley Hughes, both deceased. When Chuck was 16 years old, he left school and home and hitchhiked from Virginia to Florida, to be with his favorite uncle, the late Charles Austin Moore (Jackie), a career military man. On his 17th birthday, Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honored with a special party at the Navy Recruiting Station in Washington, D.C. For many months, the Enlistment Office displayed posters of that event to encourage other young men to do the same. During his USN active service, Chuck received appointments to Chief Hospital Corpsman and to Permanent Chief Petty Officer. He served aboard the USS Fanning (DE-1076) and USS Dixie (AD-14) of the Pacific Fleet; duty aboard the ballistic-missile nuclear-powered submarine USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN657), and five-year duty with the USMC Second Division Fleet Marine Force. Other duty stations were naval hospitals and submarine bases in the states and overseas and at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. At times his service brought him in contact with history in the making, such as his story of being on R&R in Greece when he and his shipmates were called back to duty and shipped out during the Cuban Missile Crisis, arriving within sight of land just as the crises was averted and the mission was called off. He served US Naval Support Activity in the Republic of Vietnam, DaNang, attached to Marine Corps combat units, providing crucial aid to the wounded and the dying. In 1976 he retired after 20 years of active duty and was transferred to the USN Fleet Reserve. He retired from the US Military on January 1, 1987. Following active duty retirement, he completed the Physician Assistant Program at the Medical University of S.C. in Charleston and received National Board Certification as a PA. Continuing his education, he was graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. degree in Psychology from UNC-C in 1983 and a Master's in Education in 1986. His civilian history includes employment from 1977-1985 at Cannon Mills in Kannapolis where he established and supervised the Clinical Laboratory and the Asbestos Health Surveillance Program and coordinated the company’s Health Screening Program. From 1985-1992, he was a Primary Care PA in the acute admissions division of Broughton Hospital in Morganton. In 1992, he began employment at the WG (Bill) Hefner Veterans Administration Medical Center as a PA in Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Two years before his retirement in 2014, he became a PA in the Sleep Medicine Clinic at the VAMC. A man of many interests over the years (photographer, motorcycle enthusiast, horse owner, fisherman, gardener), his talent for writing remained his life-long passion. Among other writings, he completed seven novels which were self-published through iUniverse: Darcy Miller, The Wedjat, Mulberry Street, Exodus Conspiracy, Craven, The Mafia and Jonny Blue, and The House on 666 Shadow Lane. In 2012, Chuck was elected to and served one term on the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Board of Education. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Noreen Foster Volunteer of the Year Award. Chuck was the father of three children with his first wife, Joan Wolfe Hughes (deceased): John Hughes (Melinda) of Kannapolis, Michele McCraw (Todd) of China Grove, and Charles D. Hughes (Peggy) of Medina, Ohio. He was the stepfather of Lynn Hughes Wharton (deceased). Denise Shaw of Charlotte is his former daughter-in-law. He had twelve grandchildren and multiple great-grandchildren. In 1985 he married his wife, Lucretia, and became stepfather to Eric Anderson of Charlotte, Scott Andersen (Jennifer) of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Tracy Anderson Maines (Philip) of Fountain Inn, S.C. He shared a cherished bond with his Goddaughter, Aidan Elizabeth Walker, affectionately known as “Belle” (short for Tinkerbelle) of Spindale. His sister Jean Lynch of Waynesboro and a brother Larry Hughes of Burlington predeceased him. Surviving siblings are brothers, Jeff Hughes (Melody) of Concord, and Wayne Hughes of Virginia. Chuck was a generous man, never hesitating to lend assistance and offer a helping hand to many. When Chuck left employment at Broughton Hospital, the P.A. Staff presented him with a plaque engraved with these fitting words: “A champion of the underdog. A ready and able wit. A colleague you can depend on.” Graveside service with military honors was conducted at the US National Cemetery, Statesville Blvd. location, Salisbury, NC with Pastor Sandy Yow officiating. In lieu of flowers please consider remembrances made to an agency of your choosing that provides support and care to Veterans of the United States Military. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Hughes family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Charles Edward Hughes

September 19, 1940 - December 9, 2022