Philip France Howard Pugh

A celebration of Dr. Pugh's colorful life will be held on Friday March 13, 2009. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, and will be followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Burial and reception will follow.

Siblings: Vivienne Lentell, Vernon Hughes (both deceased)
Wife: Elizabeth Ramsdell Pugh. Children: Philip Hughes, Kathleen Rowland, Alicia Sandre, Charles Pugh, and Elizabeth Campbell.

Philip France Howard Pugh was born in Houston, Texas, on October 22, 1917, the son of V.H and Doris (Gredell) Pugh, but lived his early and most of his adult years in Sioux City, Iowa. He graduated from East High School in Morningside, spending all his summers with family by the water at Lake Okoboji. He went on to receive his undergraduate degree at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He was attending medical school at the University of South Dakota, when a pretty drama major was playing the piano. Barging in with his baritone voice, he soon met and fell in love with the woman who later became his wife. Betty Lu Ramsdell attended nursing school in Philadelphia, PA, while Phil attended medical school at Temple University. He completed his fellowship in Neurology and Psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, where the first two of his five children were born. With his young family, Phil and Betty moved back to Iowa, where Phil became Sioux City's first psychiatrist. He often said he had the best job in the world because he loved people. In Sioux City, three more children arrived. Phil and Betty were active at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sioux City, and started the Heather Highlanders Bagpipe Band. Many wonderful memories involve celebrations of Hogmanay and Robbie Burns day and productions of Brigadoon. More than anything,however, they enjoyed music at home with Betty playing the piano, with Phil and the kids singing.

Summers were spent at Lake Okoboji where Phil enjoyed sailing (often in very heavy wind with his foul weather gear) and swimming (soon after the ice was out). Phil and Betty made Lake Okoboji their permanent home during their later years. Phil was an active member of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Spirit Lake, was a supporter of the Arts, as well as Lakeside Labs. Phil also participated in the Rotary and relished playing the bagpipes wherever his services were requested, or as many will recall early in the morning on the dock. Phil was a fixture at many Okoboji functions, and he and Betty often greeted friends and neighbors with bagpipe tunes and Betty's modified Haggis.

His wife, Betty, preceded him in death in 1999. Phil remained at their home by the Lake,and since 2001 was a resident at Milford Nursing Home. After a brief illness, he passed away March 6, 2009. Phil is survived by his five children, thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorial gifts may be made in honor of Philip to St. Albans Foundation Fund as well at to Lakeside Labs.

The family would like to extend their thanks to Alice Goetsch, Shar Kinnetz, Dr. and Mrs. Shively, Fr. Carl Mann and the St. Alban's community as well as the staff and friends at Milford Nursing Center for all their love and support.

Turner Funeral Home of Spirit Lake in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.turnerfuneralhomes.com. 712-336-2575