James A. “Doc” Pugh Sr.

PUGH,

James ‘Doc’ Pugh, Sr. was born on October 2, 1946, in Daisytown, Pennsylvania, to the Fredrick and Gladys Pickens Pugh. He attended West Junior High School and graduated in 1964 from Warren G. Harding High School. In 1965 Doc married Patricia Ann Walters, and in the same year, became one of the first blacks to own a franchise with Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio), Pugh’s Sohio. In 1965, he was employed at Rockwell International as a press operator, in 1968 he began employment at Packard Electric Systems in manufacturing and decided to apply for apprenticeship program as a tool and die maker and in 1970 he became a licensed life insurance agent with the Citation Life Insurance Agency. In 1976, Doc opened R.B.G. Music and later expanding the complex to house a Women’s Clothing Boutique, Men’s Clothing Store, Meat and Produce Store, and The RBG Eatery. Doc was past president of Warren-Trumbull County Chapter of NAACP, served on the board at TCAP, was member of Black Men in Union, and was elected to Warren City Council. James Doc Pugh Sr., passed away on December 24, 2015, at Hospice of The Valley with his family by his side. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Pugh, Sr.; mother, Gladys Pickens Pugh; stepmother Marie Gary Pugh; brothers, Robert Pugh Sr., Charles Pugh Sr. and Fred Pugh, Jr., James Gary, Joseph Gary, Ernest Gary, David Gary and Dr. Melvin Gary; sisters, Gladys Fant, Frances Santiago, Theresa “Che Che’ Gary and Dolores Gary. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving and devoted wife of forty nine years, Patricia ‘Ann’ Walters Pugh; one daughter Pamela Pugh; one son James ‘Jimmy’ (Ru’Kiya) Pugh, Jr.; grandchildren Candice Dukes, Tavia Dukes, Janea Dukes and Micah Pugh; great-grandson Justice Dukes; brother Harry (Sandra) Pugh of Warren, Ohio, sisters, Melvon Poole of Washington, Pennsylvania, Phyllis Boss of Detroit, Michigan, and Deborah Gary of Columbus, Ohio,; brothers-in-law Arnold (Deborah) Walters, and Larry (Lois) Walters; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Family will receive friends for visitation starting at 9:00am and Celebration of Life Service will begin at 11:00am Saturday January 2, 2016 at Grace Fellowship Church 2150 Niles Courtland Rd. SE Warren, Ohio 44484 (near the mall). Arrangements entrusted to MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE 2500 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, Ohio In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at any Chase Bank to The James Doc Pugh and Patricia W. Pugh Scholarship Fund.