Hugh Weyman Yarbrough, of La Mesa, California, passed into eternal life on July 15th, 2025 in Flower Mound, Texas.

Hugh was born to Henry Lee and Daisy Yarbrough, the second of three brothers, in Rome, GA on March 12, 1942. His early years with brothers, Chuck and Ray, and his many cousins, were spent in the small textile town of Lindale, GA, where he was active in sports and Boy Scouts. His good-natured but stubborn and rebellious nature helped him earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout in the eighth grade. This accomplishment resulted in being awarded a full scholarship to Darlington School, a private preparatory school, which opened up higher education opportunities previously out of reach for him. At Darlington he was the co-captain of the soccer team and worked in the school cafeteria to pay for shoes and books.

Hugh attended Auburn University on a Navy ROTC scholarship. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1964 and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy. His first assignment was aboard the troop transport USS Lenawee which participated in the first landing of the U.S. Marines in Vietnam. Lieutenant Yarbrough directed gunfire support missions in Vietnam and was an underway Officer of the Deck during plane guarding assignments in the Gulf of Tonkin.

In 1968 he was assigned to Naval Forces Vietnam where he served as a watch officer in the Operations Center in Saigon, gathering intelligence for daily briefings with the Admiral. After his tour in Vietnam, Lt. Yarbrough returned to Auburn University as an NROTC navigation instructor. His last assignment was aboard the USS Sacramento where he served as head of the Operations Department and ships Navigator. Later in the tour he was the ship's First Lieutenant. He was discharged from the Navy after eight years of service and worked for Texas Instruments and Miller Brewing Company.

On June 28th, 1969, he married the love of his life, Catherine Marion Brighton, who affectionately called him "Reb," at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in La Mesa, a decision he credited as "the best one he ever made." Reb was welcomed into the family by Catherine's parents, Chester and Inez Brighton and her twin brother, Carleton. Reb and Cathy were a devoted and happy couple, spending 56 wonderful years together. He was a dedicated husband and family-man who prioritized his marriage and raised his three daughters with love, integrity, and humor. He worked to provide opportunities to his family that he didn't have growing up and his children were blessed with a wonderful childhood filled with lots of love and laughter. Some of his proudest memories were seeing them graduate from college, walking his daughters down the aisle, the birth of each of his six grandchildren, and catching up with family during visits or reunions. He bragged to everyone about their interests, adventures, and accomplishments. He has three daughters; Cynthia, married to Michael Sieradski, Cheryl, married to Robb Hammel, and Caryn, married to Brad Staib. He has four grandsons, Chase and Trey Sieradski, Dayton and Blake Hammel, and two granddaughters, Alexa and Stella Staib.

In 1995, he retired and moved to La Mesa, California, where they resided for 30 years. He became an active member of his community, volunteering at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, checking in on his 68th Street neighborhood family, keeping up on his yard work, and grilling steaks and burgers to perfection. He spent almost 15 years as a stadium usher for the San Diego Padres where he was recognized for being a friendly and familiar face on the third base line. Hugh is described by friends and neighbors as a "man's man," who loved cracking jokes and talking sports with the guys, but who was also quietly one of the kindest and most thoughtful gentlemen they knew. He delivered meals to those in need, mowed lawns when neighbors were out of town, and learned the names and stories of the servers at the restaurants he regularly visited. He rescued his next door neighbor, carrying her out of her burning house and became the neighborhood grandpa to many of the children on the block. He enjoyed a good burger at Johnnie B's or spaghetti at Lidos, suspense novels, Auburn football, Padres baseball, golf, model trains, woodworking, poker, grilling in the backyard, and his dog, Bo. He enjoyed a good prank and he only teased you if he really liked you. He loved his life and was constantly grateful and amazed at how far he had come from such humble beginnings and how blessed he truly was.

Reb and Cathy recently moved to Flower Mound, Texas to be closer to family where he spent the last three months caring for his beloved wife, Catherine, making new friends, giving the Avanti staff nicknames, and enjoying happy hour and good conversation with his new Veteran buddies. He always had a smile and a joke ready for everyone he met and he will be dearly missed by all.

A Catholic service will be given for Hugh Weyman "Reb" Yarbrough at St. Phillip The Apostle Catholic Church in Flower Mound, Texas on Saturday, July 19th at 10am CST. To sign the guest book, or connect to video streaming of the ceremony: https://stphilipcc.org/mass