James Omer Pugh

James Omer Pugh was born in Bloodland, Missouri, on June 27, 1938 to Gaines Martin Pugh and Carrie Mabel Pugh (nee Hudgens). Jim moved to Phelps County in 1941 and grew up on a farm 3 miles north of Rolla. He attended Corinth School and graduated from Rolla High School in 1956.

After graduation, Jim got a job with the USGS doing survey work in Minnesota and Arkansas. In 1960 he joined the U.S. Air Force. While going to an Air Force school in Biloxi, Mississippi, he married Barbara Ann Smith on March 25, 1961, at Fort Wyman Baptist Church in Rolla. From there they went to Biloxi until Jim finished his schooling to become an Electronic Warfare Officer. Then he went to school in Reno, Nevada, and to Castle AFB, California for training.

His first permanent base was Walker AFB at Roswell, New Mexico, where they lived for 5 years. On March 31, 1962, their son, James Lee Pugh, was born. During this time Jim was sent to school at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Barbara went along and their daughter, Katherine Ann Pugh, was born there on November 7, 1964.

Jim was transferred to Fairchild AFB, Washinton, near Spokane in 1967. There he had years of temporary duty in Thailand, Guam, and Okinawa. He flew in the B-52 during the Vietnam War. After the war was finally over, Jim was transferred to Castle AFB, California in 1974. He helped set up the Central Flight Instructor School. He and Barbara bought a home in Merced, California, and lived there for 6 years.

After retiring from the USAF in 1980 at the rank of Major, Jim started up his own small engine repair shop as owner/operator of JIM CAN Repair which he enjoyed for many years until his eyesight and mind could no longer serve him to his satisfaction. In addition to working in the shop, Jim enjoyed his dogs, his vegetable garden, and maintaining his land. He was very spiritually connected to the family farm where he grew up and often referred to it as his "church".

His wife, Barbara, preceded him in death on August 17, 2006. He married Carol Hall on March 1, 2014 who preceded him in death on March 3, 2025. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his 3 older sisters, Betty Louise Scherer, Doris Ann Ponzer, and Irma Lee Canfield.

Jim moved to the St. James Missouri Veterans Home on January 10, 2023 where he lived until his final repose on September 16, 2025.

Jim will be greatly missed by his surviving family which includes: one son, James "Jamie" Pugh and partner, Tammy Hubbard of Knoxville, TN; a daughter, Katherine "Kathy" Winters and husband, Ronald "Ron", of Rolla, MO; two stepdaughters, Sheri Richer and Janet Bowe and husband, James; brother-in-law, Jack Smith of Texas; numerous other brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews; two grandchildren, Nicholas Winters and Nichole Chrisman, both of California; five step grandchildren, Matthew Neary, Kelsie Hill, Dakotah Thompson, Kendra Gensimore, and Caitlyn Hatfield; and several step great grandchildren.

A funeral service for James O. Pugh will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at the Rolla Church of Christ, 1303 Nagogami Rd (Hwy E), Rolla, MO. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, September 22 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Missouri Veterans Home – Assistance League, PO Box 98, St. James, MO, 65559.