Edwin Scruggs

Edwin Theodore (Ted) Scruggs, III passed away peacefully on May 23, 2014 after a long battle with Alzheimer's, a disease that slowly deprived him of his amazing talents. Ted lived his whole life in the Houston area. Born 65 years ago to Edwin Theodore (Ted) and Elaine Allen Scruggs, his childhood was spent living along the banks of Sims Bayou in the Garden Villas neighborhood.
Ted was a gifted athlete who excelled at baseball, track, and football at Hartman Jr. High School and Jesse H. Jones High School. He was awarded a football scholarship to Rice University, from which he graduated with a degree in Economics. After graduation from college, he opened a small antique shop, eventually moving the shop to two adjacent houses on Avondale in the Montrose area to house the antiques. Ted's creative and entrepreneurial instincts along with his love of music spurred his vision to turn the antique shop into a nightclub that featured local musicians. "Theodore's" served as a hub of activity during the heyday of the Montrose area renaissance in the 1970s. Ted later joined his brother, Jimmy, along with his mother and father, in The Scruggs Company, which specializes in pumps and valves for water treatment.
Ted married Suzan Brundrett in 1992 at a ceremony at their home on Clear Creek. As a testament to Ted's ability to make and keep friends, he had 13 groomsmen to Suzan's 4 bridesmaids. Ted was a social animal. He gathered and maintained close friendships throughout the different eras in his life: his childhood in Garden Villas, his years in junior & senior high school, Rice, his Theodore's years, and beyond. He was innately creative, always planning yet another project. He had a keen sense of style and an engineer's understanding of how things worked. Sadly, in his late 50's Ted started to notice that he was becoming forgetful and ideas did not come to him as freely. In 2008, at age 60, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a disease that his father had succumbed to in 2000. He lived at home until the fall of 2013, when he moved into a nursing home that specializes in Alzheimer's care.
Ted is survived by his wife Suzan Brundrett Scruggs, his brother Jimmy Scruggs, and his sister Elaine Scruggs Watson. He was pre-deceased by his parents Ted Scruggs and Elaine Allen Scruggs and his sister Karen Scruggs Hall. He is also survived by nephew Ben Hall and nieces Heather Hall Spears, Jennifer Scruggs, Cora LaFrance Treacy, and Lauren LaFrance Mahwikizi. He leaves an enormous set of friends. Mike Wollard, Bobby Wuensch, and Bill Atessis were his constant companions during his years as a young athlete in school. Buck Cleboski and Spike Lowe have remained close since the Garden Villas days. Kerwin Drouett and Mike Birdwell were Rice friends. The Theodore's days brought close friends Candy and Terri Lee Elizando, Ken Streetman, and Dinah Babcock. Clear Creek neighborhood friends include Rod and Frances Jones, Gary and Brenda Griffin, Chuck and Victoria Hodgson, and Al and Judy Proctor. Ted will be missed dearly by the many people whose lives were touched by his humor, generosity, and hospitality.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 3 at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 North Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in remembrance of Ted Scruggs to the Alzheimer's Association, online (www.alz.org) by phone (1-800-272-3900), or via mail (225 North Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601).
Condolences may be sent to the Scruggs family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhom.com.