James E. Pugh Sr. M.D.

James E. Pugh, Sr., M.D., 97, of Charlotte, died Monday, August 26, 2002 at the Asbury Care Center. Born June 2, 1905 in Port Deposit, MD, he was the son of the late John Howard Pugh and May Eliza Pugh. He was preceded in death by his four sisters and two brothers.
Dr. Pugh was raised in the small town of Port Deposit on the banks of the Susquehanna River. He attended the Tome School locally and went off to the University of Virginia with a football scholarship. He completed his undergraduate studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and went on to complete his medical degree there in 1933. Dr. Pugh was the first Temple graduate to be accepted into the medical residency program of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate Hospital. He subsequently completed postgraduate studies in cardiology and became a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Dr. Pugh married Loretta Day in 1936 and launched his medical practice at that time. He practiced medicine in Yeadon, PA and nearby Philadelphia for over fifty years. He was a complete physician who knew his patients' medical conditions and family and work concerns intimately. He practiced in an era of open-ended office visits and house calls, and the doctors of Yeadon had their own team in the town bowling league. During the 1940's he served as the team physician for the major league Philadelphia Athletics and loved to sit in the dugout next to manager Connie Mack during the games.
Dr. Pugh had a lifelong love of sports and music. He enjoyed playing the piano and guitar and singing, performing with the Yeadon Kiwanis band for many years. He passed these musical genes on to his three children. As education had enabled him to serve his fellow citizens, he worked hard to provide strong educations for his children and to give them an appreciation for a lifetime of gaining knowledge.
In his later years of medical practice, Dr. Pugh married his practice assistant of many years, Dorothy Leslie, and they continued to work together prior to their retirement move to North Carolina.
Dr. Pugh was active in local civic organizations over the years in Yeadon, PA, including the Kiwanis Club and the Professional Club. He served on the staff of the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia and the Fitzgerald-Mercy Hospital in Darby, PA. He was a member of the Yeadon Presbyterian Church and the Fernwood Masonic Lodge.
Dr. Pugh was preceded in death by both of his wives.
Survivors are his daughter, Patricia Ann Dugan and her husband John Dugan of Conway, SC; son, Dr. James E. Pugh, Jr. and his wife Faye of Charlotte; and daughter, Nancy P. Morith of Yardley, PA; grandchildren, Maureen Thomasen, John Wallum, Chris Pugh, Bill Pugh, Jennifer Uhlman, and Brad Morith; and great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Jessica, and Cathy Thomasen, Abby Pugh, and Sarah Uhlman.
A private memorial service will be held at the Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send contributions to the Tome United Methodist Church, 100 North Main Street, Port Deposit, MD 21904.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Asbury Care Center and Dr. John Lacouture for their excellent and loving care of Dr. Pugh.
Arrangements are by Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, Dilworth Chapel.