A journey of Christmas joy was transformed into a tragedy on a Wednesday afternoon as Donnie Leon Hughes died of exposure in the Shenandoah river.
The 17-year old youth and his father, Vernon L. Hughes of Coverstone Lane, Shenandoah, had journeyed about two miles down the river in search of a Christmas tree and had taken a small rowboat to the other side.On the back with the tree in the boat, the small vessel capsized.The youth and his father were dumped into the river.Mr. Hughes swam to the east bank, and when he could not spot his son in the water, assumed the youth had drowned.Mr. Hughes returned to his car and drove two miles to Shenandoah to seek help.The father spotted Officer Jenkins who was working radar at the edge of town, and told him of the mishap.The Officer called Shenandoah firemen and rescuemen and Mr. Hughes returned home to change his wet clothes before returning to the river bank.Firemen found the youth wedged between two trees growing out over the water along the east bank.The river bottom dropped off sharply into deep water at the spot, and firemen worked nearly 20 minutes to free the youth.Apparently he was in the frigid water nearly an hour.At the time, the youth was unconscious but alive ,firemen said.As they lifted the boy up the bank and toward an ambulance, Mr. Hughes arrived, but collapsed.The father also was taken to Rockingham Memorial Hospital but was not admitted.The youth died at 3 p.m. despite an hour-long resuscitation attempt.
Donnie Leon Hughes was born March 31, 1952 in Harrisonburg and was the son of Vernon Leon and Velva Meadows Hughes.
He was a junior at Page County High School and a member of the First Christian Church in Shenandoah.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a twin sister, Bonnie Lou;two other sisters,Linda Susan and Lori Ann,all at home,and his maternal grandmother,Mrs. Crimora Meadows of Shenandoah.
The family received friends Friday, December 19, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Warren G. Kyger Funeral Home.
A funeral service was held Saturday afternoon, December 20, at the chapel of the Warren G. Kyger Funeral Home.The services were conducted by the Rev. Cecil Rhodes,pastor of the First Christian Church.Pallbearers were present and former schoolmates,Roger Tappy,Ray Pence,Glen Rhodes,Gary Huffman,Chuck Plum and Donnie Knighton.
Burial was in the Coverstone cemetery.
He enjoyed playing baseball.
The 17-year old youth and his father, Vernon L. Hughes of Coverstone Lane, Shenandoah, had journeyed about two miles down the river in search of a Christmas tree and had taken a small rowboat to the other side.On the back with the tree in the boat, the small vessel capsized.The youth and his father were dumped into the river.Mr. Hughes swam to the east bank, and when he could not spot his son in the water, assumed the youth had drowned.Mr. Hughes returned to his car and drove two miles to Shenandoah to seek help.The father spotted Officer Jenkins who was working radar at the edge of town, and told him of the mishap.The Officer called Shenandoah firemen and rescuemen and Mr. Hughes returned home to change his wet clothes before returning to the river bank.Firemen found the youth wedged between two trees growing out over the water along the east bank.The river bottom dropped off sharply into deep water at the spot, and firemen worked nearly 20 minutes to free the youth.Apparently he was in the frigid water nearly an hour.At the time, the youth was unconscious but alive ,firemen said.As they lifted the boy up the bank and toward an ambulance, Mr. Hughes arrived, but collapsed.The father also was taken to Rockingham Memorial Hospital but was not admitted.The youth died at 3 p.m. despite an hour-long resuscitation attempt.
Donnie Leon Hughes was born March 31, 1952 in Harrisonburg and was the son of Vernon Leon and Velva Meadows Hughes.
He was a junior at Page County High School and a member of the First Christian Church in Shenandoah.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a twin sister, Bonnie Lou;two other sisters,Linda Susan and Lori Ann,all at home,and his maternal grandmother,Mrs. Crimora Meadows of Shenandoah.
The family received friends Friday, December 19, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Warren G. Kyger Funeral Home.
A funeral service was held Saturday afternoon, December 20, at the chapel of the Warren G. Kyger Funeral Home.The services were conducted by the Rev. Cecil Rhodes,pastor of the First Christian Church.Pallbearers were present and former schoolmates,Roger Tappy,Ray Pence,Glen Rhodes,Gary Huffman,Chuck Plum and Donnie Knighton.
Burial was in the Coverstone cemetery.
He enjoyed playing baseball.
A journey of Christmas joy was transformed into a tragedy on a Wednesday afternoon as Donnie Leon Hughes died of exposure in the Shenandoah river.
The 17-year old youth and his father, Vernon L. Hughes of Coverstone Lane, Shenandoah, had journeyed about two miles down the river in search of a Christmas tree and had taken a small rowboat to the other side.On the back with the tree in the boat, the small vessel capsized.The youth and his father were dumped into the river.Mr. Hughes swam to the east bank, and when he could not spot his son in the water, assumed the youth had drowned.Mr. Hughes returned to his car and drove two miles to Shenandoah to seek help.The father spotted Officer Jenkins who was working radar at the edge of town, and told him of the mishap.The Officer called Shenandoah firemen and rescuemen and Mr. Hughes returned home to change his wet clothes before returning to the river bank.Firemen found the youth wedged between two trees growing out over the water along the east bank.The river bottom dropped off sharply into deep water at the spot, and firemen worked nearly 20 minutes to free the youth.Apparently he was in the frigid water nearly an hour.At the time, the youth was unconscious but alive ,firemen said.As they lifted the boy up the bank and toward an ambulance, Mr. Hughes arrived, but collapsed.The father also was taken to Rockingham Memorial Hospital but was not admitted.The youth died at 3 p.m. despite an hour-long resuscitation attempt.
Donnie Leon Hughes was born March 31, 1952 in Harrisonburg and was the son of Vernon Leon and Velva Meadows Hughes.
He was a junior at Page County High School and a member of the First Christian Church in Shenandoah.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a twin sister, Bonnie Lou;two other sisters,Linda Susan and Lori Ann,all at home,and his maternal grandmother,Mrs. Crimora Meadows of Shenandoah.
The family received friends Friday, December 19, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Warren G. Kyger Funeral Home.
A funeral service was held Saturday afternoon, December 20, at the chapel of the Warren G. Kyger Funeral Home.The services were conducted by the Rev. Cecil Rhodes,pastor of the First Christian Church.Pallbearers were present and former schoolmates,Roger Tappy,Ray Pence,Glen Rhodes,Gary Huffman,Chuck Plum and Donnie Knighton.
Burial was in the Coverstone cemetery.
He enjoyed playing baseball.
The 17-year old youth and his father, Vernon L. Hughes of Coverstone Lane, Shenandoah, had journeyed about two miles down the river in search of a Christmas tree and had taken a small rowboat to the other side.On the back with the tree in the boat, the small vessel capsized.The youth and his father were dumped into the river.Mr. Hughes swam to the east bank, and when he could not spot his son in the water, assumed the youth had drowned.Mr. Hughes returned to his car and drove two miles to Shenandoah to seek help.The father spotted Officer Jenkins who was working radar at the edge of town, and told him of the mishap.The Officer called Shenandoah firemen and rescuemen and Mr. Hughes returned home to change his wet clothes before returning to the river bank.Firemen found the youth wedged between two trees growing out over the water along the east bank.The river bottom dropped off sharply into deep water at the spot, and firemen worked nearly 20 minutes to free the youth.Apparently he was in the frigid water nearly an hour.At the time, the youth was unconscious but alive ,firemen said.As they lifted the boy up the bank and toward an ambulance, Mr. Hughes arrived, but collapsed.The father also was taken to Rockingham Memorial Hospital but was not admitted.The youth died at 3 p.m. despite an hour-long resuscitation attempt.
Donnie Leon Hughes was born March 31, 1952 in Harrisonburg and was the son of Vernon Leon and Velva Meadows Hughes.
He was a junior at Page County High School and a member of the First Christian Church in Shenandoah.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a twin sister, Bonnie Lou;two other sisters,Linda Susan and Lori Ann,all at home,and his maternal grandmother,Mrs. Crimora Meadows of Shenandoah.
The family received friends Friday, December 19, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Warren G. Kyger Funeral Home.
A funeral service was held Saturday afternoon, December 20, at the chapel of the Warren G. Kyger Funeral Home.The services were conducted by the Rev. Cecil Rhodes,pastor of the First Christian Church.Pallbearers were present and former schoolmates,Roger Tappy,Ray Pence,Glen Rhodes,Gary Huffman,Chuck Plum and Donnie Knighton.
Burial was in the Coverstone cemetery.
He enjoyed playing baseball.
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