COL (Ret.) Orville Roy Hughes died peacefully at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium, Maryland on March 16, 2023, at the age of 101. Orville was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Eleanor Mae Hughes, and his eldest son, Richard Allen Hughes, and his wife, Janet.  Orville is survived by his son Steve and wife, Carol, of Baldwin, Maryland; daughter Debbie and husband, Keith Bennett, of Kingsport, Tennessee; daughter Jennifer, widow of Jeff Lauer, of Raleigh, North Carolina; 14 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.

Orville was born on June 15, 1921, in Armstrong, Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a masters degree from Columbia University. Upon commissioning, he served in the US Army during WWII where during heavy fighting with the Germans he was wounded and captured as a POW. After the war, while still serving in Germany, Orville met his wife, Eleanor. During the Korean War, Orville saw action on Heartbreak Ridge, where he received a Silver Star for valor. With a gift for languages, Orville went on to learn German and Russian before being assigned to military intelligence and diplomatic tours in Germany and Austria during the Cold War. He served in the US Army for twenty-six years (1943-1969) and retired after a distinguished career as a full Colonel.

Following his military career, Orville worked for the City of Baltimore in the Finance Department, Bureau of the Budget, during the administration of the late Mayor William Donald Schaefer.  When the mayor established a Sister City Program with Odessa, Russia, Orville was Baltimore's official translator when dignitaries from Odessa visited Baltimore.  After thirteen years working for Baltimore City, Orville retired from his second career to his small farm in Monkton, Maryland.

In retirement Orville devoted his energy to veteran's organizations including the Military Order of the Purple Heart. In 2002 he lobbied for the passage of the "American Patriotism in Maryland Schools" resolution and in 2005 was selected as Maryland's "Veteran of the Year".

The family will receive friends at Peaceful Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Center, 2325 York Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Friday, March 24 from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM.  A Funeral Service honoring Orville's life will be held on Saturday, March 25 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3911 Sweet Air Road, Phoenix, Maryland 21131 beginning at 11:00 AM, followed by a luncheon at Chestnut Grove Presbyterian Church. Orville will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please remember Orville with memorial contributions to the Military Order of the Purple Heart .

Orville was a patriot who devoted his life to serving his family, his friends, his community and his country. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Orville, but we know he lived a long and full life, and leaves a lasting legacy of military service for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.