Obituary of Virginia "Nelle" Cain Hughes

Virginia “Nelle” Cain Hughes, 99, of Fairmont passed away on Friday, August 11, 2017, at her residence. She was born in Monumental on May 3, 1918, daughter of the late Albert “Bert” and Hazel Jones Riggs. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She retired from C&P Telephone Company (now Verizon) in 1975 with over 39 years of service. She served in various capacities, first starting in Fairmont as an operator and a few months in the business office before going back to the traffic department to train as a service assistant. She was promoted into management in 1947. In 1956, she was transferred to Elkins then to Beckley. She later went to Charleston then back to Fairmont as Dial Administrator. When the Fairmont and Clarksburg clerks merged, she worked in the Clarksburg District Office until retirement.

In her younger years, she liked to travel, hunt and fish, play golf and square dance with the Right Hand Stars.

She is survived by three step-sons, Gary Hughes and wife Judy of Trinity, AL, Norman Hughes and wife Sheila of Panama City, FL and David Hughes and wife Barbara of Vineland, NJ; one ex step daughter-in-law, Lori Hughes of Monroeville, PA.

She also leaves three step granddaughters, four step grandsons, three step great grandsons, one step great granddaughter, one God child, Lyn Lusk Mills of Charlotte, NC, one sister-in-law, Geraldine Riggs, several nieces and nephews including Dorothy Boyer Hartley and Susan Kirkpatrick, and special friends, Bernitta and Patty.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Hughes in 1979, four sisters, Edna (Carter) Boyer, Margaret (Charles) Hartley, Lillian (Richard) Madden and Mary Louise Shelma (Thomas) Koon; three brothers, Charles (Joe) Riggs, Lawrence “Locky” (Mary) Riggs and Robert “Bobby” Riggs.

She was a member of Highland Ave. UMC which she attended since she was three years old. She belonged to the United Methodist Women, the Martha Circle, the Marion County Senior Center, the Telephone Friendship Club and the Telephone Pioneers of America.

In the past, she was a volunteer in several organizations in the community including the American Cancer Society Free Wheelers, Road to Recovery.

The family would like to thank the caregivers from Amedysis Hospice, Darlene, Donna, Kelly, Lisa, Ruth and Shirly.

The family requests memorial contributions be made in Nelle’s memory to Highland Ave. UMC, 204 Highland Ave., Fairmont, WV 26554, or to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 2222, Fairmont, WV 26554.

The family will receive friends at Ford Funeral Home, Ford Chapel, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont, WV 26554, on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The funeral will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Micah Blanks and Pastor Charles Nickerson officiating. A committal service will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Westover. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.FORDFUNERALHOMES.com.