Gordon E. Hughes

Hughes, Gordon Elliot, age 95, of Middletown, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2018 at Atrium Medical Center. He was born September 15, 1922 in Galion, OH to C.J. and Edith (Coblentz) Hughes. Gordon graduated from Middletown High School class of 1939 and entered Oberlin College at the age of 16 where he graduated in 1943 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Political Science. He served in the United States Army from 1943 until 1946 in the Southwestern Pacific as an Intelligence and Reconnaissance NCO. Gordon married Betty M. (Heck) Hughes October 8, 1949 and fathered 2 sons, Gordon E. Hughes and David M. Hughes. Gordon began his Armco career in 1946 as a Production Checker at the Middletown Works. He was named Branch Manager in Venezuela in 1952. In 1957 he and his family returned to Middletown where he became Branch Manager of Allied Products Sales for Armco International. In 1963 he was named Assistant Director of Personnel and in 1965 was named Director Personnel. He served as Assistant Vice President – Personnel for Armco’s Steel Group and Assistant to the President before being elected Vice President of the Eastern Steel Division. In 1974 was named Steel Group Vice President and a member of the four man Corporate Executive Office. He became vice President – Administration in 1978 and retired from Armco in 1979. Gordon was very active in civic affairs. He and his wife Betty were founding members of the Middletown Community Foundation. He was the former president and member of the Board of the Middletown Area United Way, former member of the Board of the Middletown Symphony, the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church, former member of the Boards of Bank One of Middletown, the Union Central Life Insurance Company, the Manhattan Life Insurance Company, the United Theological Seminary, and former Vice President of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Gordon was elected to the Board of Trustees of Ohio Northern University in 1966 and was Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1980 until 1985. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of Business Administration in 1981. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was blessed with a beautiful mind and spirit and was active until the end of his life. He will be missed by all that knew and loved him, he was always generous with his contributions to the community organizations and always found time to be involved in his sons’ activities. Gordon is survived by his son, David (Becky) Hughes; grandchildren, Christy Hughes and Brian (Teresa) Hughes; great-grandchildren, Amelia, Mazzyn, Gus, Braxton, Beckett; sister, Katherine Hist; close family, Bob (Ann) Heck, Anne Fetner, Bob (Jane) Malsbary, Jerry (Linda) Frechette, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty M. (Heck) Highes; son, Gordon E. Hughes Jr.; special friend, Lloyce Martin. A visitation will be held Wednesday, August 1, 2018 from 9:00-11:00 am at First United Methodist Church, 120 South Broad Street, Middletown, OH 45044. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 11:00 am at the church. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Middletown Community Foundation, 300 North Main Street, Suite 300, Middletown, OH 45042 or Middletown Arts Center, 130 North Verity Parkway, Middletown, OH 45042. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bakerstevensparramore.com.