Virginia “Ann” Cole Hughes, 82, a retired nurse and volunteer with the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department and resident of Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, MD, passed away peacefully on Dec. 30, 2020.  Born on Sept. 21, 1938, in Washington D.C. to the late Francis Marion Cole and Elizabeth Ussery Cole, Ann grew up in Purcellville, VA.

Ann graduated as valedictorian from Loudon County High School and then attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where she graduated with honors with a degree in English. After her husband, Samuel W. Hughes passed away in 1976, Ann returned to school to an Associates degree in nursing from Montgomery College and worked as an ICU nurse for Suburban hospital until her retirement.

As a volunteer paramedic, Ann was immensely proud to be a life member of the Gaithersburg Washington-Grove Volunteer Fire Department. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors, and later in various administrative positions within the department for over 40 years. Ann also served as a volunteer CPR instructor and instructor/trainer for Montgomery County. Ann also served in various positions in the Boy Scouts of America and other volunteer organizations.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Wilfred Hughes and her son, Michael Cole Hughes. She is survived by her son, Samuel Thomas Hughes and his wife Lynn, her son James Edward Hughes, daughter-in-law Maureen Russell Hughes, and grandchildren Madeline, Brian, Matthew and Michael. 

A service will be held at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to the America Heart Association in Ann's name. An online memorial can be found at bit.ly/37ZD0eM.