John R. Hughes Jr., 72

John R. Hughes Jr. of Dover passed away Tuesday evening, March 20, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover, after having been in failing health the past several months. He was 72.

Mr. Hughes was born in Fairfield Township, N.J., son of the late John R. "Romie" Sr. and Ariana (Gould) Hughes.

He was a 1955 graduate of Bridgeton (N.J.) High School, where he played football.

Mr. Hughes and his wife had previously been residents of Fairfield Township, and had lived in the Dover area for the past five years. He was formerly employed with T-FAL in Millville, N.J., as a forklift operator, and had previously worked at Ecko products in Clayton, N.J. In his younger years, he was employed with Martin Dye Corp. and also with Seabrook Farms as security.

Mr. Hughes was an avid ham radio operator and was a member of the Vineland Repeaters Group and the Cumberland Radio Club. His call sign was K2UJU.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret L. "Peggy" (Pierce) Hughes; and two sisters and a brother-in-law, Eleanor Thompson of Atlanta, and Rachel and Wayne Green of Fairfield Township, all of whom will cherish his memory.

Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Burial will be in Gouldtown Cemetery, Fairfield Township.

Arrangements by the Sray-Webster Funeral Home, Deerfield Township.

Written condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting the funeral home Web site at www.sraywebsterfuneralhome.com.