Robert L. Hughes was born in Burlington, Iowa on June 14, 1931, to Elgin and Lee Hughes.
His family moved to Tulsa during the Depression. He attended Tulsa Public Schools, graduating from Will Rogers High School, in 1949. He enlisted in the US Air Force, in 1951. On September 27, 1952, he married Nathalie Menges in Wichita, Kansas. She preceded him in death, in 2013.

During his time in the service, he was stationed at McConnell AFB in Kansas, where he was assigned to the 381st Strategic Missile Wing; Elmendorf AFB in AK, where he was assigned to Headquarters Alaskan Air Command; Loring AFB in Maine, where he was assigned to Headquarters Squadron 42nd Bomb Wing; McDill AFB in Florida; and Hickam AFB in Hawaii, where he was assigned to the 619th Military Airlift Support Squadron. He was also stationed at Udorn AFB and Takhli AFB in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He was a proud member of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and worked in the Command Post. When speaking of his time at the Command Post, he would often say that he loved going to work every day. He retired from the Air Force as a MSGT, in 1973.

After retiring from the Air Force, he and his family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. They were founding members of St. Thomas More Catholic Church where he and Nathalie were active in church programs, including the Matthew 25 social justice group. They also volunteered at Neighbor for Neighbor and Oxley Nature Center. He worked for the US Post Office from 1973, until his retirement in 1992. He started his career on the floor running a mail sorting machine and ended his career as a retirement counselor in the Personnel Department.

He enjoyed classic cars, reading history books on WWII and Vietnam, University of Kansas basketball, vacationing with his family in Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii, and eating at his favorite restaurants, which included all types of ethnic foods. He also took care of and doted on his faithful companion dog, Abby. In later life, he also enjoyed volunteering as an election poll worker and supervisor.

He enjoyed independent living at Cedarhurst of Woodland Hills. There he rekindled friendships with classmates from Will Rogers High School and his brother-in-law, Charles.

He is survived by son Robert (Jill); daughters Mary Beth DeMier and Alison (Chris) Burke; grandchildren, Nicholas DeMier, Kathryn (Brandon) Jones, Timothy (Megan) Burke, and Maureen (Joe) Sullivan; and 6 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 2nd 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 1402 S Boulder Ave. Tulsa.

Funeral services will be Saturday, April 13th, 10:00 am, at Church of the Resurrection, 4804 S Fulton, Tulsa.

Friends may honor Bob's memory with donations to: Neighbor for Neighbor, 505 E 36th St North, Tulsa, OK 74106-1812 or the Tulsa SPCA PO Box 581898 Tulsa, OK 74158

Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151