Rickey Lewis Hughes left his earthly body behind early Thursday morning, May 14, 2026. He was a truly good man whose kindness, humor, and gentle spirit left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by the many lives he touched.

Rickey had a lifelong passion for airplanes that brought him endless joy and connected him to so many meaningful friendships throughout his life. He had an extraordinary gift for identifying airplanes simply by the sound of their engines, often naming them before they even came into view. He could spend hours perfectly content sitting at the local airport watching planes take off and land, or attending airshows surrounded by others who shared his fascination with flight. Though Rickey loved all airplanes, his absolute favorite was watching the Blue Angels take to the sky. A sight that, whether in person or in a video, never failed to light him up.

His other great love was music. Rickey loved all kinds of music but really appreciated the chill bumps that vocal harmonics gave him. The song he could never get enough of was "Listen to the Music" by The Doobie Brothers, and most of us can't hear that song without thinking of him. Anything that gave him a reason to play along on his dashboard drums was purely therapeutic.

Rickey was a devoted father and a proud Paw Paw. He loved his two children and daughter-in-law deeply, and his three grandchildren, Reuben, Ryder, and Lucy Jane, were among his greatest joys. He shared a close and nurturing relationship with each of them and wore the title of Paw Paw with great pride.

He also shared a special lifelong bond with Kathy Hughes, the mother of his children and a dear friend. In recent years, they had been roommates following the passing of Kathy's partner, Dave Haymaker, who had become one of Rickey's closest friends. Rickey lovingly joked that Dave was his "husband-in-law," and there is comfort in imagining Dave there to welcome him home.

Rickey created countless cherished memories for his many nieces and nephews, who will always remember trips to the Dilly Dally to fill a bag with candy before heading to the airport to watch the planes come and go.

To know Rickey was to know kindness. He didn't have a mean bone in his body and would quite literally give the shirt off his back, whether to someone he loved or a stranger in need, without a second thought. Humble, generous, forgiving, and loving are just a few words that describe him, though "Nut" will always be the name spoken most fondly by those who loved him.

He had a wonderful sense of humor and could always make people laugh. Sometimes people laughed with him, but more often they laughed at him, and he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Rickey was a simple man in the best possible way. A stack of bologna sandwiches and an old western, or better yet, a Redskins game playing on the television, was enough to make him perfectly happy.

Rickey carried deep respect and gratitude for all who have served and continue to serve our country. On his behalf, we offer our sincere thanks to the veterans who risk their lives every day to protect the freedoms we are so blessed to have.

He was an all-around good man, the kind this world could always use more of, and though he will be missed in countless ways, he will be remembered with deep love, warm laughter, and gratitude for the time we were blessed to share with him.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Jason Hughes, and wife Melissa, Daughter, Emily Henry; mother to his children and lifelong friend, Kathy Hughes; grandchildren, Reuben Ferris, Ryder Ferris, Lucy Jane Henry; great-grandchildren, Silas Ferris and Jaxon Ferris; sister, Margie Witt; brothers, Larry Hughes and wife, Vonnie, Kenith Hughes and wife Marlene.

A memorial service to celebrate Rickey's life will be held at 5 Points Music Sanctuary, located at 1217 Maple Ave. Roanoke, VA, 24016, on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The service will be held at 2:00 pm. We invite you to arrive a little earlier, around 1:00 pm, to spend some time with the family. We can't wait to see you there!

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to 5 Points Music Foundation, whose gracious donation of the Sanctuary for Rickey's memorial service is deeply appreciated.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Sara Lewis and Dave Vanderpool at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home and Susan Mini at Sherwood Memorial Park. During this difficult time, their compassion, comfort, and professionalism have meant so much.

Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.