David Pugh

David Allan Pugh, 57 of Arispe, died Feb. 26, 2006, at Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Thurs., March 2, 2006 at the United Methodist Church in Arispe. Pastor Karen Garrison will officiate. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery near Creston. Open visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home 612 N. Dodge Afton. Graveside military rites by John B. Parks VFW Post #8882 of Afton. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the family. David Allan Pugh was born March 18, 1948 in Cedar Falls, to Muriel (Shouse) and Lester "Bus" R. Pugh. He graduated from Camelback High School in Phoenix, Ariz. and went on to study at a area community college in Phoenix. In 1968, he entered the United States Army during the Vietnam War, serving for two years. After his discharge, he worked as a bookkeeper at the Granada Hometel in Phoenix. On August 18, 1979, he was united in marriage to Merle Lee Barkalow in Afton. They have lived all of their married life in Arispe. David worked as a certified Nursing Assistant at the Afton Care Center. In 1979, he reactivated the newspaper, formerly known as the Diagonal Reporter, serving as publisher of the Diagonal Progress in Diagonal. In 1998, he purchased The Afton Star Enterprise Newspaper. He has been the owner and publisher of both papers since then. Dave also worked with the Americorps After-School program through East Union School District, volunteered with the Canoe Kids, and served as their PTO Reporter. David served on the Arispe City Council. He was active with the Union County Republicians. He was a member of the Arispe United Methodist Church, where he helped with their Sunday school. He was one of the founders and board member of the Diagonal Printing Museum. David did extensive Genealogical work and loved it. He is well known in Adams, Ringgold and Union Counties for his interest in history. Survivors include his wife: Merle Lee of Arispe, a one daughter, Margaret Jean at home; his step-mother, Carol Pugh of Arispe; mother-in-law, Barbara Barkalow of Creston; brother-in-law, John (wife Jonan) Barkalow of Creston; sister-in-law, Jean (husband Dan) Reidel of Polo, Mo.; an Uncle & Aunt Gerald & Dorothy Shouse of Portland, Ore., and Aunt Pluma Shouse of Creston; nieces,nephews, great nieces, great nephews and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Leigh Pugh, father in-law: Merle Barkalow; and Uncles, Roy Pugh, Robert Shouse, and Homer (wife Iva) Pugh.