Ray Albert Hughes, 90, passed away peacefully Saturday at the Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople.

A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Ray was a quiet and patient family man, ready to share sound advice and stories about the old days. He skillfully repaired everything from cars to vacuum cleaners and always had a tool box close at hand. He never tired of learning new things, whether it was speaking Spanish or strumming a guitar.

Ray was born March 8, 1920, in Sharpsburg to the late Clarence Floyd and Clara Elling Hughes.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1942, working as an aviation mechanic in Dayton, Ohio.

He married Ruth Treese of Pittsburgh on May 22, 1942, and the couple settled in Sharpsburg when Ray was honorably discharged following World War II.

Ray upholstered furniture in Etna for several years, then joined the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier. The couple bought a home in Gibsonia and raised their family there. In 1979, Ray retired after 27 years as a letter carrier with a perfect driving record of which he was most proud.

In retirement, Ray gave his grandchildren rides to events and later helped teach them to drive. He and Ruth were first to arrive when family or friends needed help, and together they were generous volunteers for more than 25 years at the Passavant home.

Ray was preceded in death two months ago by Ruth, after 68 years of marriage. In addition to his parents, he also was preceded in death by a baby girl; a son, Larry Hughes; a daughter, Janice Dininny; and a grandson, Kevin Hughes.

Ray is survived by his son, Keith Hughes and his wife, Debbie, of Tucson, Ariz.; a son, Eric Hughes and his wife, Maritza, of Pittsburgh; a brother, Oliver Hughes of Pittsburgh; 11 grandchildren, Erin Harris of Helena, Mont., Shannon Dininny of Yakima, Wash., Darcy Fultz of Arkansas City, Kan., Andrew, Thomas and Kenneth Hughes, all of Pittsburgh, David Sibley of Aumsville, Ore., Tim, Matt, Josh and Rachel Sibley of Tucson, Ariz.; and 12 great-grandchildren.

<B>HUGHES </B>— Friends of Ray Albert Hughes, who died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at <B>Boylan Funeral Home</B>, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Seaman Memorial Chapel at the Passavant Retirement Community, second floor of the main building, 401 S. Main St., Zelienople. A brief reception will follow. Interment will be private.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that charitable donations may be made to the Lutheran Senior Life Foundation, 401 S. Main St., Zelienople, PA, 16063.Online condolences and directions are available at www.boylanfuneralhome.com.