Beatrice J. “Bea” Hughes, 77, of Mentone, went home to be with the Lord at 10:56 pm, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, after a very short illness, at Lutheran Hospital of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Bea was born on July 15, 1946 in Warsaw, Indiana to the late Anthony “Pat” and Lois (Whetstone) Walsh. She was a 1964 graduate of Mentone High School and had also attended Beaver Dam. She married July 31, 1965 in the Sacred Heart Church of Warsaw, Indiana to Gene Hughes, he survives. She worked for Mentone Egg Products for over 20 years, starting as an egg cracker and retiring as production supervisor.
Bea had a servant’s heart. She was a part of the Mentone Fireman’s Auxiliary, as well as their Women’s Waterball Team. She was heavily involved with the Special Olympics and was a volunteer for the Mentone Youth League, where she served on the board of directors. Bea was awarded the Kosciusko Community Foundation Heart of Gold for 2001 demonstrating her outstanding community service and volunteerism. She and her husband were also honored as the Egg Festival Parade Marshals in 2002. She was a certified EMT and held several different positions for the Four-Way Ambulance Service of Mentone.
Bea fed all the crews and half the pits at the races, supporting her husband, in the #47 G&B Racing car. She was also a great hand in the garage. Bea was a major supporter of all Tippecanoe Valley Athletics cheering the teams with their number one fan, her daughter, Teri. But most of all she loved her grandkids and great grandkids, they were her heart.
She is survived by her husband Gene Hughes of Mentone; children Joe and wife Angie Hughes of Bremen, Mark and wife Amy Hughes of Mentone, Teri Hughes of Mentone, Becky Shepherd and Jason Teague of Mentone; grandchildren Derek, Patrick and wife Ericca, Jamie and wife Bethany, Kassidy and Ben, Kirstin and husband Austin, Jessie, and Kaitlin; 5 Great Grandchildren; and a sister Patti and husband Dennis Gruenewald of Woodberry, Minnesota.
Bea was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter-in-law Shawnee Lynn Hughes, a sister Dixie Lee Summe, and a great grandson Graham.
The funeral service will take place at 10:30 am, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023 at King Memorial Home 101 North Tucker Street Mentone, Indiana with Pastor Emily Gearhart officiating.
The interment will take place in the Harrison Center Cemetery, Etna Green, Indiana.
Visitation hours will be held from 3 pm to 7 pm, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 at King Memorial Home, Mentone, Indiana.
Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to the Beaver Dam Community Church/Wheels on Fire to assist the community members who are fighting cancer .
