- Date Of Death: June 21, 2014
- State: Indiana
Leonard A. Hughes, 76, of Bristol, passed away Saturday, June 21, at Elkhart General Hospital after a sudden illness. He was born Feb. 9, 1938, in Elmhurst, Ill., to Raymond C. Hughes Sr. and Lillian V. (Leonard) Hughes. On May 23, 1959, he married Rose D. Guardalabene, in Villa Park, Ill.
In addition to his wife, other survivors include four children, Christopher (Debra) Hughes of Union, Mich., Julene (Robert) Wales of Elkhart, Carol (Vincent) Barango of Valparaiso and Matthew (Tammy) Hughes of Franklin; four brothers, Raymond Hughes Jr. of Lombard, Ill., Gerald Hughes of Elmhurst, and Robert Hughes and Michael Hughes, both of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; two sisters, Catherine L. Funk of Andover, Minn.; and Sister Janet Hughes of Cincinnati; eight grandchildren, Nicole Hughes of South Bend, Amanda (Trevor) Bloom of Topeka, Craig (Jordan) Wales, Adam Wales and Nathaniel Wales, all of Elkhart, Anthony Barango and Nicholas Barango, both of Valparaiso and Grace Hughes of Franklin; two step-grandchildren, Katherine Wright of Boston, and Andrew Wright of Union, Mich.; and four great-grandchildren.
Len began his career in auto racing when he was 17 years old and started his first business “Len’s Speed Shop” in Elmhurst in 1959. He began to specialize in magneto service in 1961 and continued working at it until his death. In addition, he was a manufacturers representative in the automobile industry. A job offer brought him to Indiana in 1975; where he continued to work in sales and product development in metal fabricating. He was a volunteer fireman while living in Illinois and worked as an usher at Notre Dame football games for five years.
He was a member of St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 11574 and Fourth Degree Assembly 2035.
