Bea Hughes

Beatrice J. “Bea” Hughes, 77, of Mentone, went home to be with the Lord at 10:56 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, after a very short illness, at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne.

Bea was born on July 15, 1946, in Warsaw, to the late Anthony “Pat” and Lois (Whetstone) Walsh. She was a 1964 graduate of Mentone High School and had also attended Beaver Dam. On July 31, 1965, she married Gene Hughes, who survives. She worked for Mentone Egg Products for over 20 years, starting as an egg cracker and retiring as production supervisor.

Bea had a servant’s heart. She was a part of the Mentone Firemen’s Auxiliary, as well as their Women’s Waterball Team. She was heavily involved with the Special Olympics and was a volunteer for the Mentone Youth League, where she served on the board of directors. Bea was awarded the Kosciusko Community Foundation Heart of Gold for 2001, demonstrating her outstanding community service and volunteerism. She and her husband were also honored as the Egg Festival Parade Marshals in 2002. She was a certified emergency medical technician and held several different positions for the Four-Way Ambulance Service of Mentone.

Bea fed all the crews and half the pits at the races, supporting her husband, in the No. 47 G&B Racing car. She was also a great hand in the garage. Bea was a major supporter of all Tippecanoe Valley athletics, cheering the teams with their No. 1 fan, her daughter, Teri. But most of all she loved her grandkids and great-grandkids; they were her heart.

She is survived by her husband, Gene Hughes, of Mentone; children, Joe and wife Angie Hughes, of Bremen, Mark and wife Amy Hughes, of Mentone, Teri Hughes, of Mentone, Becky Shepherd and Jason Teague of Mentone; grandchildren, Derek, Patrick and wife Ericca, Jamie and wife Bethany, Kassidy and Ben, Kirstin and husband Austin, Jessie, and Kaitlin; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Patti and husband Dennis Gruenewald, of Woodberry, Minn.

Bea was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter-in-law, Shawnee Lynn Hughes; a sister, Dixie Lee Summe; and a great-grandson, Graham.

The funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone, with Pastor Emily Gearhart officiating.

The interment will take place in the Harrison Center Cemetery, Etna Green.

Visitation hours will be held from 3-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at King Memorial Home, Mentone.

Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to the Beaver Dam Community Church/Wheels on Fire to assist the community members who are fighting cancer.

Share a memory or send an online condolence at: hartzlerfuneralservices.com.