Russell C. Hughes, Jr.

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Mr. Russell C. Hughes Jr., 87, passed away Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, surrounded by loved ones in Escondido, Calif.

Born Dec. 27, 1923, in Central, Ill., Russell was the son of Russell and Bertha Elizabeth Hughes. He graduated from Yorkville High School in 1942 and attended Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn.

In 1943, he served in the Army in World War II in the European Theatre, receiving the Bronze Star. He returned home in April 1946, working with his father in the family automobile business.

Russell married the love of his life, Marilyn Anderson, on Jan. 25, 1947. They were blessed with a loving family.

Russell owned Oldsmobile-Cadillac automobile dealerships in Yorkville, Ill., and Kewanee, Ill., and Ogden, Utah, returning to Illinois in 1976. His son, Russ, wife Marilyn, and daughter-in-law Chris were all part of the family business.

Russell moved to Escondido, Calif., in October 2007 to live with his daughter and son-in-law.

He was a member of Helmar Lutheran Church in Helmar, Ill., an honorary member of Zion Lutheran Church in Kewanee and House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Escondido.

As a community leader,  Russell served as Yorkville city alderman, was a founding father of city of Yorkville and was instrumental in the merging of Bristol and Yorkville into the United City of Yorkville in 1958. He developed a subdivision in Yorkville, Ill., naming a street after his mother, Elizabeth.

In Kewanee, Russell served as president of the Hospital Board, president of Rotary, president of the National Auto 20 Dealer Association, president of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Cadillac Dealer Council of Illinois, and the LAMBS investment club.

He loved music, singing, his church family, the family dog, seeing the ocean, going for rides, but most of all visits and calls from his family. He was an avid Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. He loved the San Diego weather, but his heart was always in Illinois.

Survivors include two daughters, Pamela (William) Muse of Escondido, Calif., and Deborah (Randy) White of Findlay, Ohio; son, Russell (Christina) Hughes III of Kewanee, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Randy, Jeffrey, Kamela, Pamela, Sarah, Elizabeth, Andrew and Aaron; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy (Howard) Christian; a sister-in-law, Ione Bennett; and many nieces and nephews.