Navy veteran honored by city on his final day

It was a great day Monday for retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Gerald "Pappy" F. Hughes. Before the start of Jacksonville's Veterans Day Parade through downtown, the 98-year-old resident received a medal from the city recognizing him as Jacksonville's oldest veteran. He beamed a great smile from his wheelchair, a son said, as he was honored by the area's military brass, parade grand marshals and other aging veterans taking a last salute.


A little too tired to ride in the parade, Chief Hughes was driven home and told a daughter he wasn't feeling well. He was taken to Jacksonville Naval Hospital later Monday where he died. It was a very peaceful death, the son said.

"We really feel very grateful to the city for doing that for him," said Gerald "Buzz" Hughes Jr.

The family will receive visitors from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, 127 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park. There will be a private service for the family Friday in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Chief Hughes grew up in the Pittsburgh area and joined the Navy in 1931. He served through World War II and the Korean War.

One of his early assignments was aboard the Navy's first aircraft carrier. Other ships on which he served as a small arms and ordnance expert included the Wyoming, Ranger and Coral Sea.

After retiring from the Navy in 1954, Chief Hughes worked in federal civil service at Jacksonville Naval Air Station.

He also enrolled as a student at Jacksonville University, taking night classes until earning a bachelor's degree in 1961.

In 1990 he was recognized for a total of 60 years of service to the Department of Defense.

Survivors include four other sons, Edward Hughes, James Hughes, Brian Hughes and Christopher Hughes, all of Jacksonville; three daughters, Maureen Smith of Montgomery, Ala., LaVerne Tilley of Toccoa, Ga., and Sylvia Hughes of Jacksonville; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.