John Douglas "Doug" Hubbard

1941 - 2026

John Douglas "Doug" Hubbard passed away peacefully on Jan. 6, 2026. He was born Oct. 18, 1941, to the late EE and Marie Hubbard of Bardstown. He was a lifetime member of Bardstown United Methodist Church, and a proud Bardstown High School alum, class of 1959.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Doug served as President of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Doug then attended the University of Kentucky Law School and joined the bar in 1967. He then practiced law with his father at Fulton Hubbard & Hubbard Law Offices, where he spent more than 55 years passionately representing the people of Nelson County and the surrounding area. Doug especially enjoyed his role as corporate attorney for Salt River Electric Co-op for more than 30 years.

Doug was very involved in our community. He was past president of the Kiwanis Club and the Nelson County Jaycees. He was named Outstanding Young Man in 1968 by the Chamber. He was instrumental in growing our city by developing local shopping centers and protecting the downtown area's history. Doug was inducted in the Nelson County Hall of fame in 2004.

A huge advocate for education, Doug invested in the Bardstown Independent School System all his life. From student to parent, volunteering with several middle school and high school sports teams, to serving as legal counsel to the school board, and serving as president of the Bardstown Foundation for Excellence in Public Education. He was later appointed to the Kentucky State Board of Education. In 2007, Doug was inducted into the Bardstown High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Doug is survived by his wife of 59 years, Judy Whitesides; his three children, Susan Carson (Mike) of Dinwiddie, Va., John Hubbard (Julie) of Brentwood, Tenn., and Char Rhoads (Chris) of Owensboro; his six grandchildren, Megan, Jack and Ben Hubbard, and Clayton, Conner and Christopher Rhoads; his sisters, Lee Lumpkin (Mike) of Columbia, S.C., and Debbie Greer of Richardson, Texas; his niece, Leigh Morgan Lumpkin; and nephew, Doug Lumpkin (Liz Murphy); and great niece, Eliza Leigh Lumpkin.

Doug's law practice could not have operated without the loyalty of Deanna Sharpe, Doug's legal assistant for 57 years, and Debbie Crowe, his office manager.

We are especially thankful for the wonderful care Doug received at Cooper Trail Legacy Lane, from Caring Hearts Caregivers and with Hospice of Nelson County. Beverly Lewis (with grandson, Jacob) and Kennethia Dimas made his final days peaceful.

We would like to invite all attorneys in the Nelson County Bar to serve as honorary pallbearers for the service. 

Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 9, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home.
The funeral will be Saturday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m. at Bardstown United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Bardstown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please feel free to donate to Bardstown Foundation for Excellence in Public Education, Bardstown United Methodist Church, and Hospice of Nelson County.
Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.