HOULTON – Urban C. Hughes, 88, died peacefully July 12, 2009, at his residence. He was born Oct. 25, 1920, in Woodstock, New Brunswick, the son of Robert and Edith (Flynn) Hughes. Urban was a firefighter for more than 50 years serving with Woodstock and Houlton fire departments. He owned and operated Dead River Service Station for 23 years and then worked 17 years at Dead River Food Trend. Urban was special in that he loved to make people of all ages laugh and be happy, so much that he did magic tricks and dressed as a clown for special occasions and all of the Fourth of July parades. He loved to tell a good story and was an avid historian, belonging to Carlton County Historical Society, where he was a lifetime member. Urban is survived by his wife of 44 years, Joyce (Leavitt) Hughes of Houlton; six children, Roger and Joan Hughes of St. Leonard, Md., Fred Hughes and his friend, Debbie Hill, of Nashua, N.H., James and Margie Field of Newton, Ala., Jane Hughes of Houlton, Jason Field and his wife, Debbie Christo, of Exeter and Peggy and Mark Crane of Hodgdon; 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and several dear friends. Urban’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the members of Houlton Fire and Ambulance Departments for their friendship and many acts of kindness. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday, July 17, at Saint Mary of the Visitation Church. Gifts may be made in Urban’s memory to Houlton Community Arts Center, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730.
URBAN C. HUGHES
