Arden Leroy Hughes, age 86, of Selma, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Ottumwa.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Cranston Family Funeral Home in Keosauqua, with Pastor Gerard Muller officiating. Visitation with the family will take place one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow immediately after the service at Iowaville Cemetery. Memorial contributions to Iowaville Cemetery may be left at the funeral home or mailed to the family at 10942 107th Street, Selma, IA 52588. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Arden Hughes was born on August 6, 1939, in Ottumwa to Garold George Hughes and Frances Maureen Hayden Hughes. He was raised in and around Selma in Van Buren County and graduated from Selma High School in 1956. He continued his education at Iowa State University in Ames, where he earned a degree in Agricultural Education. On August 30, 1959, he married Karen Lambert at the Selma United Methodist Church. During his time at Iowa State University, Arden joined the United States Army and participated in ROTC training. He served in the Army from 1961 to 1963 and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he held the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After completing his military service, Arden and Karen returned to Selma, where they purchased a farm and began farming while raising their family. Arden worked on the farm and also drove a semi part time for many years. In the 1980s, he began driving full time for Case and Foodliner. Though he attempted retirement three different times, it never lasted long, as he was continually drawn back to the open road. His final return to driving was as a bus driver for the Indian Hills sports teams, an experience from which he made many fond memories. Arden was actively involved in his faith and community. He loved going on mission trips with the church and attended Faith Methodist Church in Libertyville. He also enjoyed attending races in Eldon and helping with track preparation. He was a founding member of the Selma Demo Association and owned a pulling tractor during the 1960s.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Karen Hughes of Selma; two sons, Scot Hughes (Marcia) of Cedar Rapids and Todd Hughes (Tracy) of Madrid; a daughter-in-law, Mary Hughes of Selma; a sister, Jeanne (Jim) Wainscott of Fresno, California; grandchildren Trevor Hughes, Ashton Hughes, Katie Roling (Luke), Spencer Hughes (Lavanya Singh), and Mason Hughes; step-grandchildren Kayla Eakins (Clint) and Kurtis Gee (Chelsea); as well as several nephews, extended family members, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Garold and Frances Hughes, and by a son, Mark Hughes.
