Barbara J. Hughes

Barbara Jean Hughes, age 89 of Defiance, passed Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at her home in Defiance.
She was born December 3, 1933, to Ernest and Oline Hutchinson in Charleston, West Virginia. Barbara gained her bachelor’s degree in education specializing in home economics at Marshall University. She obtained her master’s degree in education from West Virginia University. Barbara took continuing education throughout her career at Bowling Green State University.
She was truly an entrepreneur, not only was she a career public school teacher, but she was also a founding partner of Hughes Insurance Company and started her own short term loan company called “Barbara’s Check Cashing” with (13) branches in Northwest Ohio. Barbara also started multiple other property LLC’s.
Barbara’s career in education affected many of the lives of the students she taught. Not only did her students excel in their educational development, but they also competed in and won many schools affiliated competitions. The devotion she placed in education has affected many of the lives of the students that she taught in our local communities.
Barbara, foremost, was a loving mother which spared nothing to provide for her family. She was our family’s inspiration for love, self-determination, innovation, and hard work, always driving us towards pursuing excellence in all our affairs while simultaneously helping those around us. 
She was a person who would listen to you, and you knew she wasn’t just getting ready to say something back, she was sincerely thinking about what you had to say. She was non assuming, took you at face value and gave you her honest opinion, always with positive overtones.
Barbara was preceded by her husband, Richard Hughes; father, Ernest Hutchinson; mother, Oline Hutchinson; brother, Daniel Hutchinson; sister, Peggy Fisher; sister, Mary Hager; brother, Jimmy Hutchinson, and her oldest son Fredrick Wade Don Parsons III.
Barbara is survived by her sister, Jane Hall; sons; David Hughes, Greg Parsons, and Craig Parsons of Defiance. She also leaves behind grandchildren, Jennifer Parsons, Alexa Parsons, Jackie Hughes, Lindsey Hughes, Matthew Parsons, Gregory Parsons, Richard Parsons, Austin Parsons, Alena Brooks, Cullen Parsons, Alyssa Parsons, Kaiden Parsons, eight great-grandchildren and two loving puppies, Babie and Lilly.
There will be no visitation or services. Schaffer Funeral Home was honored to assist the family with arrangements.
The family has requested that any memorials be directed to Ft. Defiance Humane Society. 

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