Richard “Dick” Pugh, 94, formerly of Virginia, IL passed away on April 10, 2020 in Birmingham, AL.
Richard was born March 18, 1926 in Augusta, IL, the son of Philip and Therese Wood Pugh. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, James and Mary Massie of Virginia. Richard married Betty Lou Smith, formerly of Virginia, on July 16, 1950 in Hooker, OK and she preceded him in death along with two sisters, Sandra West and Jerene Purcell.
Richard is survived by his brother, Duane Pugh of Austin, TX; six children, Paula Pugh Romanaux (William Furry) of Petersburg, Karen Maxwell Pugh (Palmer Maxwell) of Birmingham, AL, Rodney Pugh (Trish) of Davenport, IA, Angela Dunnagan (Richard) of Jacksonville, Patrick Pugh (Joey) of Atlanta, GA, and Steven Nave of Birmingham, AL; 14 grandchildren, Hannah Hopkins, Susan Swindler Hamlin, Scott Swindler, Phillip and Brandon Pugh, Riley and Mattie Dunnagan, Schuyler, Greyson, Alden, Sheldon and Lizzy Pugh, Carter and Hannah Wilkey; and four great grandchildren.
Dick was a graduate of Virginia High School, attended Marion Military Institute and the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, before serving with the US Navy. Prior to his retirement in 1986 and his relocation to Fort Morgan, AL, Dick owned and operated Massie Funeral Homes in Virginia and Ashland along with Massie Eastern Cass County Ambulance Service (MECCA). He also served several terms as Cass County Coroner. Dick’s passion was his family and service to his community. It was that commitment to his community that motivated Dick to provide quality care in critical and end of life situations through his ambulance service and funeral homes. MECCA, one of the first EMS Services in the United States, afforded Virginia, IL and environs access to paramedic services which were currently only available to more populated urban areas.
Dick’s life story is one of love of God, family and neighbor, shown through his great compassion for and service to his community. All of which he did with generosity and humor. His ability to spin a tall tale, incorporating the challenges and ironies of life, especially in moments of crises, captured both the tragic and comic aspects of the human condition with which he was so intimately familiar, and put it all in perspective. To which his wife, Betty would always respond, “And that’s a true story!”.
Cremation has been accorded. A celebration of life for Dick and Betty will be held 11:00 am, Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia, IL, on what would have been their 70th wedding anniversary.∼US Navy
He was predeceased by his parents, Phillip S Pugh and Therese Wood Pugh; his wife, Betty Lou Smith Pugh; and two sisters, Sandra Pugh West and Mary Jerene Pugh Purcell. He was survived by his brother; three daughters; three sons; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Richard was born March 18, 1926 in Augusta, IL, the son of Philip and Therese Wood Pugh. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, James and Mary Massie of Virginia. Richard married Betty Lou Smith, formerly of Virginia, on July 16, 1950 in Hooker, OK and she preceded him in death along with two sisters, Sandra West and Jerene Purcell.
Richard is survived by his brother, Duane Pugh of Austin, TX; six children, Paula Pugh Romanaux (William Furry) of Petersburg, Karen Maxwell Pugh (Palmer Maxwell) of Birmingham, AL, Rodney Pugh (Trish) of Davenport, IA, Angela Dunnagan (Richard) of Jacksonville, Patrick Pugh (Joey) of Atlanta, GA, and Steven Nave of Birmingham, AL; 14 grandchildren, Hannah Hopkins, Susan Swindler Hamlin, Scott Swindler, Phillip and Brandon Pugh, Riley and Mattie Dunnagan, Schuyler, Greyson, Alden, Sheldon and Lizzy Pugh, Carter and Hannah Wilkey; and four great grandchildren.
Dick was a graduate of Virginia High School, attended Marion Military Institute and the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, before serving with the US Navy. Prior to his retirement in 1986 and his relocation to Fort Morgan, AL, Dick owned and operated Massie Funeral Homes in Virginia and Ashland along with Massie Eastern Cass County Ambulance Service (MECCA). He also served several terms as Cass County Coroner. Dick’s passion was his family and service to his community. It was that commitment to his community that motivated Dick to provide quality care in critical and end of life situations through his ambulance service and funeral homes. MECCA, one of the first EMS Services in the United States, afforded Virginia, IL and environs access to paramedic services which were currently only available to more populated urban areas.
Dick’s life story is one of love of God, family and neighbor, shown through his great compassion for and service to his community. All of which he did with generosity and humor. His ability to spin a tall tale, incorporating the challenges and ironies of life, especially in moments of crises, captured both the tragic and comic aspects of the human condition with which he was so intimately familiar, and put it all in perspective. To which his wife, Betty would always respond, “And that’s a true story!”.
Cremation has been accorded. A celebration of life for Dick and Betty will be held 11:00 am, Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia, IL, on what would have been their 70th wedding anniversary.∼US Navy
He was predeceased by his parents, Phillip S Pugh and Therese Wood Pugh; his wife, Betty Lou Smith Pugh; and two sisters, Sandra Pugh West and Mary Jerene Pugh Purcell. He was survived by his brother; three daughters; three sons; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Richard “Dick” Pugh, 94, formerly of Virginia, IL passed away on April 10, 2020 in Birmingham, AL.
Richard was born March 18, 1926 in Augusta, IL, the son of Philip and Therese Wood Pugh. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, James and Mary Massie of Virginia. Richard married Betty Lou Smith, formerly of Virginia, on July 16, 1950 in Hooker, OK and she preceded him in death along with two sisters, Sandra West and Jerene Purcell.
Richard is survived by his brother, Duane Pugh of Austin, TX; six children, Paula Pugh Romanaux (William Furry) of Petersburg, Karen Maxwell Pugh (Palmer Maxwell) of Birmingham, AL, Rodney Pugh (Trish) of Davenport, IA, Angela Dunnagan (Richard) of Jacksonville, Patrick Pugh (Joey) of Atlanta, GA, and Steven Nave of Birmingham, AL; 14 grandchildren, Hannah Hopkins, Susan Swindler Hamlin, Scott Swindler, Phillip and Brandon Pugh, Riley and Mattie Dunnagan, Schuyler, Greyson, Alden, Sheldon and Lizzy Pugh, Carter and Hannah Wilkey; and four great grandchildren.
Dick was a graduate of Virginia High School, attended Marion Military Institute and the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, before serving with the US Navy. Prior to his retirement in 1986 and his relocation to Fort Morgan, AL, Dick owned and operated Massie Funeral Homes in Virginia and Ashland along with Massie Eastern Cass County Ambulance Service (MECCA). He also served several terms as Cass County Coroner. Dick’s passion was his family and service to his community. It was that commitment to his community that motivated Dick to provide quality care in critical and end of life situations through his ambulance service and funeral homes. MECCA, one of the first EMS Services in the United States, afforded Virginia, IL and environs access to paramedic services which were currently only available to more populated urban areas.
Dick’s life story is one of love of God, family and neighbor, shown through his great compassion for and service to his community. All of which he did with generosity and humor. His ability to spin a tall tale, incorporating the challenges and ironies of life, especially in moments of crises, captured both the tragic and comic aspects of the human condition with which he was so intimately familiar, and put it all in perspective. To which his wife, Betty would always respond, “And that’s a true story!”.
Cremation has been accorded. A celebration of life for Dick and Betty will be held 11:00 am, Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia, IL, on what would have been their 70th wedding anniversary.∼US Navy
He was predeceased by his parents, Phillip S Pugh and Therese Wood Pugh; his wife, Betty Lou Smith Pugh; and two sisters, Sandra Pugh West and Mary Jerene Pugh Purcell. He was survived by his brother; three daughters; three sons; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Richard was born March 18, 1926 in Augusta, IL, the son of Philip and Therese Wood Pugh. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, James and Mary Massie of Virginia. Richard married Betty Lou Smith, formerly of Virginia, on July 16, 1950 in Hooker, OK and she preceded him in death along with two sisters, Sandra West and Jerene Purcell.
Richard is survived by his brother, Duane Pugh of Austin, TX; six children, Paula Pugh Romanaux (William Furry) of Petersburg, Karen Maxwell Pugh (Palmer Maxwell) of Birmingham, AL, Rodney Pugh (Trish) of Davenport, IA, Angela Dunnagan (Richard) of Jacksonville, Patrick Pugh (Joey) of Atlanta, GA, and Steven Nave of Birmingham, AL; 14 grandchildren, Hannah Hopkins, Susan Swindler Hamlin, Scott Swindler, Phillip and Brandon Pugh, Riley and Mattie Dunnagan, Schuyler, Greyson, Alden, Sheldon and Lizzy Pugh, Carter and Hannah Wilkey; and four great grandchildren.
Dick was a graduate of Virginia High School, attended Marion Military Institute and the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, before serving with the US Navy. Prior to his retirement in 1986 and his relocation to Fort Morgan, AL, Dick owned and operated Massie Funeral Homes in Virginia and Ashland along with Massie Eastern Cass County Ambulance Service (MECCA). He also served several terms as Cass County Coroner. Dick’s passion was his family and service to his community. It was that commitment to his community that motivated Dick to provide quality care in critical and end of life situations through his ambulance service and funeral homes. MECCA, one of the first EMS Services in the United States, afforded Virginia, IL and environs access to paramedic services which were currently only available to more populated urban areas.
Dick’s life story is one of love of God, family and neighbor, shown through his great compassion for and service to his community. All of which he did with generosity and humor. His ability to spin a tall tale, incorporating the challenges and ironies of life, especially in moments of crises, captured both the tragic and comic aspects of the human condition with which he was so intimately familiar, and put it all in perspective. To which his wife, Betty would always respond, “And that’s a true story!”.
Cremation has been accorded. A celebration of life for Dick and Betty will be held 11:00 am, Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia, IL, on what would have been their 70th wedding anniversary.∼US Navy
He was predeceased by his parents, Phillip S Pugh and Therese Wood Pugh; his wife, Betty Lou Smith Pugh; and two sisters, Sandra Pugh West and Mary Jerene Pugh Purcell. He was survived by his brother; three daughters; three sons; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
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