Merrill E. Hughes

Merrill E. HughesMerrill E. Hughes, 87, of Tipton died at 10:35 a.m. Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.  He was born June 2, 1924 in Atlanta, Indiana to Otto Alexander & Lois E. (Wibel) Hughes.  On September 8, 1946 he married Jodie James and she survives.Merrill was in heavy equipment sales for Reid Holcomb Inc. in Indianapolis and Jackson Vibrators in Michigan.  He was formerly a manager of the Tipton Elks.  Merrill was a member of the Kemp United Methodist Church, Tipton Elks, where he was Past Exalted Ruler, Tipton Moose, Tipton Masonic Lodge, Shriners, and the American Legion.  He was an avid Indy Car and NASCAR fan, attending all of the Indy 500 races from 1946-2001.  Merrill attended more than 80 total races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway  in his lifetime.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Squadron VMTB-131 during W.W. II in the South Pacific.He is survived by his wife, four children, James A. Hughes, Altamonte Springs, Florida, Michael H. Hughes and wife Diana, Franklin, Indiana, Kevin M. Hughes and wife Denise, Aspen, Colorado, Kristi L. Henry and husband Greg, Tipton, five grandchildren, Cale M. Henry, Ryan P. Hughes, Jessie L. Henry, Jordan A. Henry, Jackson A. Hughes; two great-grandchildren, Jaden Hughes and Carson Hughes. Merrill was preceded in death by three brothers, Donald Hughes, his twin Milton Hughes, and Charles Hughes.His funeral will be at 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, April 25 at the Kemp United Methodist Church, 228 N. Main Street, in Tipton with Revs. Harold & Andrea Leininger and Rev. Phil Collier presiding.  Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 Noon on Wednesday at the church.  Burial will be at Arcadia Cemetery, with Military Services at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Young-Nichols Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.Memorial contributions may be made to the Kemp United Methodist Church, 228 N. Main Street, Tipton, Indiana, 46072 or the National Museum of the Marine Corps, c/o Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 998, Quantico, Virginia, 22134.