Louis E Pugh

Corpus Christi - Louis Erwin Pugh, Jr., 80, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away on July 23, 2025, his wife and daughter by his side. A private service will be held.

Louis was born on February 19, 1945 in Houston, Texas, the oldest of six children born to Louis Erwin Pugh, Sr. and Ruth Franklin Pugh.

In 1962, he joined the Marine Corps and served until 1966, being honorably discharged from his unit at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

Louis and Linda met in December 1965 through a mutual friend and married in 1967. A few years later their family was complete upon the birth of their daughter Debra.

After his discharge, Louis briefly returned to Houston, working as a welder. Having met Linda's family in Corpus Christi and being wholeheartedly accepted, Louis chose to return there permanently and soon joined Coastal Iron Works, throwing himself into the fabricating business. In 1981 Louis accepted an offer to join Industrial Fabricators, working with Gus Cargile Jr and Gus Cargile III. He continued to develop a vast knowledge of fabricating and made lifelong friends locally and around the state. Along the way he became a lifetime member of the American Welding Society, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Corpus Christi, an accomplished archer, fervent golfer, and a part of the Terry LaBonte Roam for a Home motorcycle rides for Ronald McDonald House. He enjoyed riding his Harley with friends whenever and wherever possible.

A loving husband, proud father, then Grandad. He enjoyed having the boys whenever possible in the country, running them around in a golf cart, fishing and kayaking with them, teaching them about his tools, and how to drive the golf carts, all the while lovingly spoiling them just a little.

When Louis retired in 2017, he relaxed in the country for a while before joining the Ed Rachal Foundation as a consultant. He enjoyed working with Paul Altheide and being involved in the Foundation's projects, the first of which was the installation of Texas flags on two of the buildings downtown.

Louis and Linda traveled as often as possible, taking road trips with their daughter and later taking their RV all over the western United States (with and without their Harleys), visiting China, London, and Ireland over the years, and cruising the west coast, Alaska, and the Caribbean.

Louis is survived by his wife, Linda Pugh, daughter, Debra Cooper, and son-in-law, Jeff Cooper of Corpus Christi, and two grandsons, Van and Eli Cooper of College Station; his sisters Betty Von Braun and Johnie Raper, both of Belton, Texas.

Louis was the man you went to if there was ever a problem to be fixed, at work, at home, or for a friend. He will be greatly missed.