Hughes

Carl Edward Hughes, 65, of Rockdale passed away suddenly on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, in Rockdale.

He was born on Dec. 30, 1954, to Edward Wayne and Mabel Magdeline (Clatterbuck) Hughes in Hagerstown, Maryland.

He graduated from North High School in Hagerstown. He attended Capital College in Laurel, Maryland, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1991 with a degree in electrical engineering.

He worked for Alcoa for 41 years, starting at the Eastalco plant, Frederick, Maryland, in 1977. In 2006, he moved to Rockdale Operations, working there through the end of 2008. He then worked for Alcoa Corporate traveling to many plants in the U.S. and overseas until transferring to Point Comfort Operations, retiring from Point Comfort in 2017.

In 2018 Carl began working for D.E.E.P. as a consulting engineer.

On Jan. 13, 2011, he married Ramona Butala in Rockdale.

He was a member of the Rockdale Matinee Musical Club, active in Milam Community Theater and the Kay Theatre.

In Maryland he was active in Glade United Church of Christ, a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association, and was captain of the Fire/Rescue in Hagerstown.

There wasn’t anything Carl couldn’t fix or build. He always had a project and always saw it through to completion. Someone would come up with an idea, he would say, “let me think about it,” then make it happen.

He loved to travel and he and his wife had many memorable adventures traveling around six continents. The next trip was always in planning with every detail meticulously crafted.

He was a cat dad extraordinaire caring for a multitude of cats through the years. Carl had an infectious laugh filling any room with his presence.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Mabel Hughes; and two infant siblings, Michael Wayne Hughes and Cathy Marie Hughes.

Carl is survived by his wife, Ramona Butala of Rockdale; daughters Jennifer Allen and husband Ray of Daniels, WV, Beth Hughes-Ross of Daniels, WV, and Rebecca Neely and husband Eric of Hedgesville, WV; stepson Bipin Butala and wife Sarah of Bloomington, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, Brett Allen of Hagerstown, MD, Christopher Allen of Daniels, WV, and Hunter Allen, currently stationed in Kuwait with the Army, James, Wesley, and Aaron Ross of Daniels, WV, Emily and Brady Neely of Hedgesville, WV and Olivia Butala of Bloomington, MN; two great-grandchildren, Mason Allen and Colton Allen.

Memorial services for Carl are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at First Presbyterian Church in Rockdale with Rev. David Wilman officiating. We request mask be worn when attending Carl’s service.

The family request no flowers, please. Instead, send memorials in Carl’s memory to Austin Pets Alive! (for cats) to austinpetsalive. org or by mail at 1156 W. Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78703. Again, please no flowers.

Arrangements by Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home, P.O. Drawer 1417, Rockdale, TX 76567, 512-446-5454.