William Perry Hughes

To view the live stream of the Funeral Mass for Perry, please click here.  This live stream will begin at 10:00 AM, Friday, February 26, 2021.

William Perry Hughes, 74, of Downingtown, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 19, 2021 at his home surrounded by his family.  He was the beloved husband of Josephine Sutera Hughes, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage.

Born in New York, he was the son of the late Thomas John and Mary Edyth McKewen Hughes.  The eldest of eight children, he was raised in Fair Lawn, New Jersey and graduated from St. Luke's High School in Ho-Ho-Kus.

He went on to graduate from Fairleigh Dickinson and Columbia Universities.   As the Director of Packaging Engineering for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, he traveled the globe helping to set up factories and production systems in both the pharmaceutical and nutritional lines with his “A Team.”  With every trip abroad, he would bring home fascinating souvenirs for his wife and children, many of which still fascinate his grandchildren.

Perry was a sports fan.  He played football and baseball in high school and softball into adulthood on company teams and leagues.  He indulged his love of motorcycles and was extremely proud of finally getting himself a Harley Davidson in the summer of 2000.  An avid golfer, he would often be out on the course with his brothers and brother in law, cousins, and work colleagues both here and abroad.  He could also be found rooting for and ranting at his favorite teams on TV whenever he could.

Perry loved listening to music.  He was known to sing along whenever the spirit moved him:   in the car, in the house, when riding the lawn mower.  Anytime was a good time to sing to some of his favorites: Sha-Na-Na, 50's Rock and Roll, Simon and Garfunkel, Classic Country and hits from the 60's.

Perry relished his role as Grandpa.  He took great pleasure in introducing his grandchildren to model trains.   He spent many an afternoon helping them learn more about the things they were interested in with Google searches and You Tube videos.  He was their go to guy to fix broken toys, to tune up bicycles and for planting new bushes in the garden.  He maintained a seemingly endless supply of batteries.  There was nothing he enjoyed more then seeing all of the children enjoying their time together at the beach.

Perry was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Eagle Harley Owners Group (HOG).    He was elected auditor in Upper Uwchlan Township.

In addition to his wife, Perry is survived by his children, Michelle Witkowski (Richard), Charlene Hughes, and Thomas Hughes (Diahann); two brothers, John R. Hughes and Francis Hughes (Laura); and by two sisters, Joanne Schneider (James) and Helen Hughes.  He is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Joshua, Matthew, Alexandra, Jack, Emily, Joseph, Mikayla and Ryan.  He will be greatly missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Perry was predeceased by three brothers, James, Thomas and Timothy Hughes.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. and again Friday, February 26, 2021 from 8:00-9:00 a.m., both at the James J. Terry Funeral Home, 736 E. Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 26, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Church, 120 St. Elizabeth Drive, Chester Springs, Pa 19425.

Interment will be in All Souls Cemetery, Coatesville.

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