Obituaries

Willard “Butch” Hughes, age 76, of Jenkins Township and formerly of Moosic, passed away Tuesday at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes Barre, after an illness. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann (Dougher) Hughes, on August 13, 2007.
Born in Moosic on July 27, 1946, and son of the late Clarence “Bubbie”, Sr. and Bessie (Decker) Hughes, Butch had attended the former Moosic High School. He had worked for Lane’s Crane Service in Moosic prior to becoming the Moosic Borough Code Enforcer and Road Commissioner, positions he held for many years prior to his retirement.
An outdoorsman, he loved hunting with his brothers and wouldn’t miss an opportunity to watch one of his children or grandchildren play in a game. He was a huge fan of the New York Giants, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, New York Yankees and NASCAR racing.
Kind, engaging and welcoming, Butch possessed a personality which allowed him to make friends wherever he went. To know Butch was to love him and he’ll certainly never be forgotten, especially by his beloved family.
He is survived by his children, Debra Hughes and partner Jen Gruenloh, Staci Hughes and partner Julianne George and Willard Hughes, Jr., all of Pittston; stepsons, John Garubba and wife Karen of N.J., Michael Garubba and partner Jeffrey of West Pittston and Rick Garubba and wife Tara of Pittston; seven grandchildren, Louis, Michel and Michael Hughes, Alaina, Tyler, Patrick and Eric Garubba; one great granddaughter, Harper Hughes, with another, Weslyn Hughes, on her way; siblings, Dorothy Marianelli and husband Robert of Old Forge, Debra Hughes of Wilkes Barre, Jackie Grugnale and husband Michael of Moosic, Clarence Hughes, Jr. and wife Sandra of Hughestown, Louis Hughes and wife Beverly of Moosic and Thomas Hughes and wife Leslie of Pittston; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan and Jerry Butler of Pittston; brothers-in-law, Joseph Dougher of Olyphant and Paul Dougher of Norwich; and many nieces and nephews.
Siblings, Donna Maul, Barbara Shrader, Marion Nalaschi, Joan Kemler, Louise Killino, Cathy Fritz and Ronald Hughes, also preceded him in death.
His family would like to thank the entire staff at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, especially I.C.U., for the care and compassion Butch was shown throughout his stay.
A blessing service is scheduled for Saturday at 9:00 AM at the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 North Main Street, Old Forge, with burial to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Wyoming. Family and friends may pay their respects on Friday between 4-7:00 PM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Butch’s name to the Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger c/o 1000 E Mountain Blvd, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.