Ron Hughes, 77, of South Charleston, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on November 8, 2026, following a long illness with Parkinson’s disease.

Ron was born in Charleston, West Virginia, and grew up in Hansford, West Virginia, surrounded by a family of musicians. He was born to William Otis Hughes and Beulah Louise Jackson Hughes, both of whom preceded him in death. Ron inherited a love of music from his father that would become one of the greatest passions of his life.

He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Gary Hughes, Robert Hughes, Mark Hughes, and Freddie Hughes.

Ron graduated from East Bank High School and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from West Virginia Tech. He continued his education at Marshall University, where he earned his master’s degree in music performance, specializing in flute, clarinet, and saxophone.

Music was in Ron’s blood from the very beginning. His father instilled that love in him, and throughout his life, Ron shared his remarkable musical talents with others. In his early years, he worked for Selmer Music, where he was recognized as an outstanding salesman. He was also first chair clarinet in the All-State Band.

Ron devoted several years to educating and inspiring young musicians through Kanawha County Schools. He took great pride in his work as a music educator and band director, serving at Park Junior High School in Beckley, DuPont High School, and South Charleston Middle School. He also served as a substitute teacher throughout his years with Kanawha County Schools. His dedication to music earned him numerous awards and accolades, including recognition from West Virginia State University.

In addition to his career in music education, Ron was also a realtor and eventually retired from real estate. Throughout his real estate career, he was affiliated with Gold Key Realty, Runyon & Associates, and Better Homes and Gardens.

While Ron’s love of music was extraordinary, his love for his family was even greater.

He is survived by his loving wife, Diane Givens of South Charleston; his children, Ronnie Givens (Barbie) of Charleston and Amy Wade (Jabo) of South Charleston.

He also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Jeremy (Lily) of Lynchburg, Virginia; Emily Givens (Will) of Houston, Texas; and Karalyne Wade of South Charleston, West Virginia.

His greatest blessings also included his great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Roman, Jet, and Titus.

Ron also leaves behind his beloved cats, whom he cherished dearly and who brought him much comfort and companionship.

He is also survived by his siblings, Gail Kennedy, Rosline Malone, Yvette Hall, Randy Hughes (Bonnie), and Mike Hughes; and his sisters-in-law, Thelma Hughes and Shelby Hughes.

Ron was a quiet and gentle soul with a kind heart. Although music was one of his greatest passions, nothing compared to the love he had for his family. In his later years, one of his greatest joys was spending time with his granddaughter Karalyne and cheering her on at her softball games. Those moments brought him tremendous happiness and created memories that will be treasured forever.

Ron leaves behind a legacy of music, dedication, kindness, and love. His gentle spirit, loving heart, and passion for music will live on through the many students he taught, the lives he touched, and, most importantly, the family who loved him dearly.

The family would also like to extend their heartfelt and sincere gratitude to Ron’s hospice caregivers, Ben and Lily. Their compassion, kindness, and loving care meant more to our family than words can express. They are truly heroes to us, and we will forever be grateful for the comfort and dignity they gave Ron and the support they gave our family during this difficult time.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 PM followed by the funeral service at 1:00 PM on Friday, November 13^th 2026 at Snodgrass Funeral Home with Minister Thelma Hughes officiating.

Ron will be laid to rest at Graceland Memorial Park in South Charleston, West Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Ron’s memory to:

Parkinson’s Foundation
529 14th Street Northwest, Suite 550
Washington, DC 20045

Online condolences and memories may be shard by visiting snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary. Snodgrass Funeral Home is honored to assist the family with these arrangements.