Eugene Dugger's Obituary
Eugene Maben Dugger, son of Arthur Edgar and Pearl (Moore) Dugger, was born April 25, 1922 in Hartville, Missouri. He departed this life Thursday, March 25, 2010, in Rocky Ridge Nursing Home, Mansfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-seven years and eleven months.
In a restaurant in 1943 in Winston Salem, North Carolina, a family began. A young and handsome 21 year old Eugene and a beautiful young 16 year old Virginia met. Gene was stationed at the Air Force Base in Greensboro, North Carolina at that time. Ginny lived in nearby Clemmons, North Carolina. On December 2, 1944, he was united in marriage to Virginia (Ginny) Mae Craver. Gene and Ginny enjoyed 65 years of marriage together on their farm in Hartville, Missouri. Together Gene and Ginny had three children; Brenda Jean, Jack and Eddie Dugger.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda, on December 25, 1952; his parents; two sisters, Marie and Dessie Ruth Dugger; and a brother, Otis Dugger.
Gene is survived by his loving wife, Ginny of the home; two sons Jack Dugger and his wife Sheila, Eddie Dugger and his wife Susan all of Hartville; a sister, Lavelle Headley, of Hartville; six grandchildren, Randy Dugger and his wife Carrie, Tracy (Dugger) Hardcastle and her husband Rick both of Hartville, Jamie Dugger and his wife Bonnie of Ozark, Kelli (Dugger) Garrison and her husband Joe of Hartville, Tasha Rank and her fiancé Toby Stevenson of Springfield and Shawna (Rank) Skyles of Hartville; seven great-grandchildren, Rilee, Mallory and Aubrey Hardcastle, Carter and Aiden Garrison, Haylee Skyles, and a new great-granddaughter to arrive in July 2010.
Gene served as a soldier in the United States Air Force from 1943 until 1946. After discharge, he and Ginny settled in Hartville. Gene and Ginny made their living operating a dairy farm for fifty-two years. They retired from the dairy industry in the fall of 1999.
Gene made his profession of faith in Christ as a young man. He enjoyed working on his farm and taking care of his cattle. Every summer he would help Ginny in the garden growing and harvesting corn. In his younger years he enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially quail hunting with his father-in-law. He especially enjoyed his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gene was given the name “Dad-O” by his first grandchild, Randy, and from then on everyone who knew him called him by that name. Dad-O enjoyed taking his great-grandchildren to preschool every day until they started kindergarten. Gene gave of himself and his home willingly and was glad to help those that he had the opportunity to. Gene never knew a stranger. He always had the time to stop and visit with his friends and neighbors. He enjoyed family gatherings and especially Christmas with his family.
Gene was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a good neighbor and friend to those who knew him. We celebrate his life and accomplishments and he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his family and friends.
Funeral services for Gene Dugger, will be Sunday afternoon March 28, 2010 at 2:00 pm, in the Hartville Freewill Baptist Church.
Visitation will be Saturday evening March 27, 2010, 6:00-8:00 pm in Holman-Howe Chapel, Hartville, Missouri.
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