Richard "Dick" Harrison McHugh

Richard Harrison (Dick) McHugh died on March 26, 2018, at Breckenridge Commons in Sullivan, Indiana. He was born on October 11, 1929 and was the son of J. Walker McHugh and Dorothy (Huff) McHugh. He is survived by his wife Ernestine Foster McHugh. His death came after a recent decline in his health.

Dick was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia Ann (Jinnie) McHugh who passed away in July 2007. His sister Sheila J. Bardsley died January 1, 1996.

He is survived by three children, Richard W. (Rick) McHugh (Marsha Marshall) of Dexter, Michigan; David W. McHugh (Leeann Gerkin) of Tucson, Arizona; and Lisa Ann Goerner of Bloomington.

He has five grandchildren: Anne Blackmar (Charlie) of Portland, Oregon; Walker McHugh (Natalie) of Dexter; Kasey McHugh of Denver, Colorado; Cora McHugh of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Patrick McHugh of Los Angeles, California; and two great grandchildren, Cecilia and Thomas (T.J.) McHugh of Dexter, Michigan. Richard has three nieces, Debbie Roznovsky of Houston, Jan Aten of Vermont, Ill., and Cindy (Curt) Howard of Sullivan; and one nephew, Keith Lloyd of Houston. He had a special relationship with his five great-nieces: Katie Bobbit, Erin Pinkston, Lora Ridge, Kendra Pounds, and Rachel Dudley, all of Sullivan.

Mr. McHugh was a long-time resident of Shelburn. He graduated from Shelburn High School, Indiana State University, and the Indiana School of Mortuary Science. He served two years in the U.S. Army. Richard operated McHugh Funeral Homes in Shelburn and Hymera, initially with his father Walker, and, following his father’s death in 1967, as a sole proprietor. He later purchased the funeral home in Farmersburg. He sold the family funeral business in the early 1980s. Between 2007 and 2011, he self-published four books concerning his thoughts about the lessons of life in small-town Indiana. He enjoyed reading, travel, and music.

Richard was involved in many civic activities in Shelburn and Sullivan County. He served on the Northeast School Corporation school board in the late 1950s and was part of the planning regarding school consolidation and the building of North Central High School. He was a founding member of Shelburn Ruritan club and assisted with their projects including funding and constructing the community building, locating a branch library in town, and recruiting physicians to practice medicine in Shelburn. Richard later served on the Wabash Valley Community Foundation and was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels in 2006 in recognition of his community service.

A memorial service will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at Brust Funeral Home in Sullivan, Indiana with Bro. Buford Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Little Flock Cemetery in Shelburn, Indiana with a Military graveside service by the Sullivan, Shelburn and Hymera Legion Posts and Sullivan county VFW Post. Visitation will be from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at Brust Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers the family request that memorial contributions be made in Richard’s name to Wabash Valley Community Foundation 200 S 8th St, Terre Haute, IN 47807 or Camp Wabashi Bible Camp 3525 E Harlan Dr. Terre Haute, Indiana 47882.

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