Eric Dale Hughes

September 18, 1931 – April 13, 2020

Eric Dale Hughes, 88, ran into the arms of Jesus completely healed on April 13, 2020 at Baylor Scott & White, College Station with his wife of 38 years by his side.  

Dale was born September 18, 1931 in Freestone County, TX.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton and Dosia Hughes, late wife Joyce Prescott Hughes, brother, Orville Hughes and sister, Shirley Hughes. Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 38 years Colly Hughes, his daughter Sharon Rafferty and husband Bill of Houston, son, Gary Dale Hughes and wife Francis of Carlos. Wes Hutto and wife Kathy of Phoenix, AZ, daughter, Lesa Wilganowski and husband Larry of Bremond. He was a very proud Granddaddy to eight grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

He was a 1949 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High, Houston.  He proudly served our country in the Korean War as a USAF Staff Sergeant.  Then he earned a BBA in Accounting from the University of Houston, 1962.  

 His career path began at age 11 as a sacker at the Richey Street grocery, Houston where his work ethic was quickly established.  He asked his daddy why he wanted him to work that young and his daddy, Clinton Hughes, who had been a Constable in Freestone Co, replied “well son, I always knew where you’d be after school.”  His “real” career began at Hess as Southern Regional Accounting Mgr.  Later, he was Plant Controller at Upjohn and DOW Chemical, where he retired at their subsidiary Destec Energy in 1994.  Still vibrant and excited to keep busy after building his dream home in Bryan and traveling for months, he became Accounting Manager of the TAMU Physical Plant in 1996.

As a teen at Park Memorial Baptist Church Houston he made Jesus Christ the Lord of his life.  Dale was a member of Garth Road Baptist, Baytown, served as a deacon at Sagemont in Houston, Hillcrest and Central in Bryan.  He chose to share the Gospel by teaching youth, single adults, college age and 5th grade wiggly boys.  He loved making wooden puzzles, Noah’s ark, sand/water table and other useful teaching tools for Hillcrest’s first Mother’s Day Out program.  

Life began to take on new meaning when he became a volunteer with the Texas Baptist Men Camp Builders, traveling over Texas, Canada, New Mexico building furniture and refurbishing camps for the Glory of God.  He felt this was a way to help fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus.  When health issues prevented traveling, he started a business, Custom Gutters, with his son, Gary.  The next 5 years found him shaping the lives of elementary children in BISD.  Substitute teaching became the high light of his life…every day brought new little “love notes” to the “best sub we’ve ever had”.  Even a few apology ones from misbehaving children!

Throughout his life, starting with high school shop classes, he learned to love working with wood, everything from furniture to pens to jewelry.  His last days were spent planning new woodturning items to give away. 

Dale wasn’t one to underline verses in his Bible …he loved them all.  Dale lived out to the “T” these two principles:  1) He firmly believed that God sees, knows everything about us,  what trials we are facing and He is working on the solution as we allow Him. No matter how upsetting and out of control the situation was, he’d always say, “The Lord Knows”.   That was to remind us that God is in control and don’t fret, He is taking care of it.   2) is expressed by the poem he read every day and shared with many.  “A New Day” by Dr. Heartsill Wilson: This is the beginning of a new day.  God has given me this day to use as I will, I can waste it or use if for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it!  When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it.  I want it to be gain and not loss, good and not evil, success and not failure, in order that I may not regret the price that I have paid for it.

He will be cremated at Callaway Jones with a private family interment at Steep Hollow Cemetery. 

Due to present circumstances (COVID-19) if you choose to remember him with a memorial contribution here are some of his favorite charities: Central Tx Orphan Mission Alliance www.ctomainternational.org;  First Baptist Church Bremond fbcbremond@gmail.com; Disabled American Vets www.dav.org.

Condolences

  1. We are praying for all of y’all. I have plenty of fond memories of your Dad. Also his love of our Savior. If you need anything just call.

  2. Colly,
    Just read this obit and am so very sorry. You two were very special to me while I lived in College Station and you always had a cheerful smile and kind words. You two were a beautiful couple together, and will be reunited again one day. Sending hugs and prayers.
    Ellie Hunt

  3. Colly and family,
    We were sorry to learn of Dale’s passing.
    He was certainly a good man and will be missed.

  4. I am sorry for your loss but Dale will see a beautiful sunrise this morning. So glad to have known both of you.
    Colly, you and your family are in my prayers.

  5. We thank you both for your Christian service to our charity. There are hundreds who drink safe water every day because of your generosity. The children are bundled in warm blankets in winter because of you, Colly. We don’t think of deserts as cold, but they sure are. I know that Dale is with our Savior and we will join him one day. CTOMAinternational loves you!

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