Robert Martin Hughes, age 79, of Arcadia, FL. died Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital after a lengthy battle with heart disease. He was born September 14, 1930 in Bath Co., KY and moved to Arcadia 36 years ago from Xenia, OH. He grew up farming in Kentucky never straying far from that line of work. However he worked until his last days following his greatest calling leading souls to Christ. Robert was a retired minister of the Church of God Faith, and a member of the Nocatee Church of God. Robert enjoyed working as a volunteer Chaplain, visiting many sick patients at DeSoto Memorial Hospital He was a Veteran of the Korean War, proudly serving two consecutive terms as a Staff Sergeant in the US Marines. Survivors are his wife of 59 years, Betty Porter Hughes of Arcadia, FL., three sons, Earl (Pam) Hughes and Kevin (Kathy) Hughes both of Xenia, OH and Glen (Lynn) Hughes of Arcadia, FL, five daughters, Bobbie (Tony) Melendez and Debbie (Clark) Vilardo both of Arcadia, FL., Brenda Sullivan of Clewiston, FL., Mary Jane Hinson of Hevuron, IN and Billie Peterson of Xenia, OH, two sisters, Betty Baker of Richmond, IN and Patty England of Maysville, Ky, one uncle, Earl Tincher of Maysville, KY, thirty grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar M. and Bessie Tincher Hughes. Visitation will be held Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at the Nocatee Church of God, US 17, Nocatee, FL. Funeral Services will follow the visitation at 1:00PM at the church with Rev. John Spratlin officiating. Burial will be at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens, Punta Gorda with the Veterans Honor Guard and Marines Honor Guard conducting services. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Robert s honor be made to Nocatee Church of God, P.O. Box 250, Nocatee, FL. 34268. Our Husband, our Father, our Granddad, our Brother will live on in our hearts forever. Online condolences can be made at pongerkaysgrady.com Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.