Richard Earl Hughen, age 85, of Fayetteville, passed away on April 13, 2026. He was born on July 21, 1940, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to the late Irene (Ridgway-Hughen) Hunter and Olin Hughen.
Rich was preceded in death by his parents, his twin brother, Tom; his brother, Harley, and his wife Carol (Thelen) Hughen. Rich and Carol went to Hot Springs High School and married shortly after they graduated. They were married for almost 60 years.
Rich was in the Air Force for 20 years during which he earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (University of Missouri) and a master’s degree in Philosophy at University of Southern California. He served a tour in Vietnam and taught Philosophy at the Air Force Academy for his last 3 years in the Air Force. After retirement from the Air Force, he earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Arkansas and was a philosophy professor at Fort Hays State University (Hays, Kansas) for 25 years.
He is survived by his three children, Bill of Belleville, Illinois, Cynthia of Bella Vista, and Richard (RT) of Fayetteville; his brother, Raymond of San Diego, California; 9 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. Rich said they were all “great.”
Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Moore’s Chapel, 206 W. Center Street, Fayetteville. There will be a private interment at Fayetteville National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Grand Ave. Methodist Church, 841 Quapaw Ave., Hot Springs National Park, AR 71901.
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Arrangements are by Moore’s Chapel in Fayetteville.