Patricia Hughes Obituary

Patricia Ann Hughes, 83, of Wake Forest, NC died Thursday April 20, 2023. She was born November 24,1939 in Morgantown, West Virginia to Virgil Wayne and Wanda Irene "Billie" (Harvey) Coombs. Patricia "Pat" was a 1957 high school graduate. After graduating, she followed her cousin Bernie and husband Whitey McMahon to New York City where she attended secretarial school and began her administrative career. She spent her early adult years living in Brooklyn, working for Chemical Bank as well as modeling. While living in NYC she met Ralph E. Hughes, Jr. on a blind date, fell in love, and was married by the Justice of the Peace. Pat and Ralph lived in MD, England Newport, R. I. , during Ralph's US Navy career as well as San Diego, CA, Burnsville, MN, and Vienna, VA during his Sperry Univac era. Pat's natural can-do spirit provided many opportunities. Her favorite being working for the USAF on Air Force One as a Wing Administration Secretary during the Nixon Administration. She was a mother of two and enjoyed her later years as a member of the Historical Society of Cumberland, Maryland, the Service League of Greenville, NC, and as an avid tennis player. She loved antiques, garage sales, and flea markets. Pat was predeceased by her parents, Virgil Wayne Coombs and Wanda Coombs; siblings, Donald Wayne Coombs and Janice Lynn Moore; as well as her husband of 53 years, Ralph E Hughes, Jr. She is survived by her son, Ralph Edwin Hughes III of Hampton Roads, VA; daughter Kelli H Shambo and son-in-law Michael P. Shambo of Wake Forest, NC; and granddaughter Elizabeth Hughes as well as several nieces. Bright Funeral Home is caring for this family. There will be no public services at this time. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Pat's memory to the