Roy Lester "Hippie" Hughes, 79, husband of Judy Eilene (Fitzgerald) Hughes, of Middlebrook, Virginia, passed away on Friday, January 26, 2024 at his residence surrounded by his family.

Mr. Hughes was born in Buena Vista, Virginia on August 17, 1944, a son of the late Andrew Johnson Hughes and Myrtle Irene (Henson) Hughes.

Lester retired from the City of Staunton where he served as a Foreman for 19 years. He spent 62 years as a volunteer with the Middlebrook Volunteer Fire Department, 37 of those years as captain and was a member of Middlebrook Church of God.

Lester was loved and respected by many for his dedication to his family, friends, Middlebrook Community and the Middlebrook Volunteer Fire Department. He was always the first to jump on any task that needed to be done and always offered a helping hand. He enjoyed gardening and mowing his yard, as well as many others, on his "John Deere" tractor. He never met a stranger and made newcomer's welcome to the Village.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by five brothers, Leonard Lee, Jimmy, Charles, Paul and Eugene; and a grandson, Mason Lane.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 60 years, are his children, Lisa Mizer and husband, Tim, and Tommy Hughes and wife, Jennifer; five grandchildren, Hunter Hughes, Morgan Hughes, Tyler Mizer, Amber Loan and husband Corey, and Lucas Lane and wife Taylor; seven great-grandchildren, Levi Loan, Samuel Loan, Jolene Loan, Jett Lane, Addie Lane, Ainsley Lane and Alden Lane; three brothers, Wilford and wife, Linda, Lewis and wife, Evalina, and Glenn and wife, Nancy; six sisters, Juanita Chittum and husband Omer, Mary Hughes, Martha Kessel, Doris Ashby, Ellen Stubblefield and husband Donnie, and Sue Berry; special friends, Bill Brubeck, Jerry Jarvis and Bobby Bocock; and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory and other times at the residence.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at Middlebrook Church of God by Pastor Merle Dodson and Larry Strickler.

Burial will follow in Arbor Hill Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Jerry Jarvis, Bill Brubeck, Dr. Rob Marsh, Rick Cason, Daniel Gordon, Hunter Hughes, Morgan Hughes, and Tyler Mizer.

Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Jarvis, Stanley Chittum, Emerson Chittum, Clay Hughes, Jimmy Marcum, and members of the Middlebrook Volunteer Fire Department.

It is suggested that those desiring make memorial contributions to the Middlebrook Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 57, Middlebrook, VA 24459 or Middlebrook Church of God, 3121 Middlebrook Road, Middlebrook, VA 24459.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive in Staunton is in charge of his arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.coffmanfuneralhome.net