Richard Hughes

Mr. Charles Richard Hughes, 83, a lifelong resident of the Tabernacle community, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, at Hinkle Hospice House in Lexington. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11, at Westfield Baptist Church, where he was a member, with the Rev. Garry Reeder officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Mr. Hughes was born on Sept. 25, 1935, to Charles Ross and Mary Alice Hughes. He was a 1956 graduate of Farmer High School. He served the citizens of Randolph County as a sheriff's deputy and detective for 30 years, serving under the administrations of sheriffs Lloyd Brown, Robert Mason and Litchard Hurley. He retired in 2000 as captain of the investigative division. As a proud member of the Randolph County Republican Party, he was a past precinct chairman of Tabernacle township and an active campaigner in local elections. Mr. Hughes was also involved in the auction business, running Tabernacle Auction Company with his brother, Ed, and later assisting his two sons with Richie Hughes Auction & Real Estate. In his retirement, he restored antique Massey Ferguson tractors, which he enjoyed showing off each July at the Threshers' Reunion at Denton FarmPark and at the fall tractor parade in downtown Asheboro. Mr. Hughes had many talents, including carpentry and bricklaying, and he took pride in hard work. He could often be found on the Hughes farm — where he lived his entire 83 years —sawing lumber at his sawmill, raising a bumper crop of produce in his garden or driving a tractor in the hayfield. Known for his competitive spirit and lifelong love of baseball, he played for Farmer High School, the American Legion and Randolph County League teams, and he once tried out for the Cincinnati Reds. He coached several Tabernacle Pony League teams and later continued coaching from the sidelines during his children's and grandchildren's games. In addition to his parents, Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by brothers Eugene, Ralph and Ed Hughes, and sister, Margaret Hughes Kinney. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia Adams Hughes, of the home; children Jeff Hughes and wife, Sharon, of Jackson Creek, Lisa H. Thompson and husband, Phillip, Richie Hughes and wife, Kelly, and Zac Hughes and wife, Kirsty, all of Tabernacle; grandchildren Leah, Hannah, Charlotte, Hayden and Isabelle Hughes; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, at Ridge Funeral Home in Asheboro and other times at the home. The family would like to thank the staff of Hinkle Hospice House in Lexington for their care and support, and they ask that memorial donations be directed to Hospice of Davidson County, 200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC 27292.