Obituary for Jack Calvin Dugger
BENJAMIN FUNERAL SERVICES NOWATA, OKLAHOMA 918-273-2700.................
Jack Calvin Dugger was born May 3, 1924 in Hayden, New Mexico to Charles Dugger and Leona (Sexton) Dugger. He passed away in his home on December 4, 2018.
Jack’s first remembrance was of a house made of adobe. His father was a farmer/rancher that raised cattle. Crops of corn and milo were raised and used to feed the cattle. When the children’s parents were out of the house, Edna, his sister, would make chocolate fudge candy. The children would eat it all and she would clean the pan, so their Mama wouldn’t know. His father used a sled to travel 50 miles to get feed for the cattle. In the winter he would wrap his shoes in burlap bags to protect his feet from the cold. His parents separated when he was about five years old. His mother left New Mexico with her children and moved to Tonkawa, OK. Later, his mother married Charles J. Adair and had two more children.
Just after the birth of Jack’s brother, the family returned to Nowata. Jack attended High School in Nowata and graduated in 1946.
Jack volunteered to join the Army December 23, 1942 and was sent to Fort Sill Reception Center. He served 18 months in Greenland during WWII. After the war, he was stationed at Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia where he met his future wife, Ruth Estelle Thomas. They were married on June 9, 1945. Their first son, Charles, was born while they were still stationed in GA. Later that year Jack was stationed at Camp Roberts, CA and reconnected with his Dad who was living in Chico, CA. When discharged from the Army, Jack and Estelle moved to Nowata in April of 1946. Their second son, Tom was born in Nowata.
Jack worked for Pure Oil Company for 10 years. After that Jack and Estelle bought and ran the Hickory House for a year before purchasing a drive-in which became known as the Dugger Dairy Dell. They operated that drive-in for 10 years. When the drive-in was sold, they later bought and ran another drive-in in Talala, OK.
Jack served as District 2 County Commissioner in Nowata County for 14 years. He retired and enjoyed travel and drinking coffee with his friends.
Jack is survived by his wife, Ruth Estelle (Thomas) Dugger of the home; and two sons; Charles Dugger and his wife Leigh Ann of Tulsa, OK, Tom Dugger and wife Ann of Stillwater, OK; five grandchildren, Mike Dugger of Danville, VA, Jim Dugger and wife Emily of Dallas, TX., Beth Matlock of Broken Arrow, OK, Katey Barron of Rogers, AR, Ginna Hensley of San Diego, CA; One brother, John Adair of Mobile, AL; a sister, Lula Vance of Crane, TX., and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Charles Dugger and Leona (Sexton) Dugger Adair, three sisters, Edna Dugger Gay, Lucy Dugger Fleming, and Pauline Dugger Price.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Benjamin Funeral Service. Online condolences may be left at honoringmemories.com.
Jack Calvin Dugger was born May 3, 1924 in Hayden, New Mexico to Charles Dugger and Leona (Sexton) Dugger. He passed away in his home on December 4, 2018.
Jack’s first remembrance was of a house made of adobe. His father was a farmer/rancher that raised cattle. Crops of corn and milo were raised and used to feed the cattle. When the children’s parents were out of the house, Edna, his sister, would make chocolate fudge candy. The children would eat it all and she would clean the pan, so their Mama wouldn’t know. His father used a sled to travel 50 miles to get feed for the cattle. In the winter he would wrap his shoes in burlap bags to protect his feet from the cold. His parents separated when he was about five years old. His mother left New Mexico with her children and moved to Tonkawa, OK. Later, his mother married Charles J. Adair and had two more children.
Just after the birth of Jack’s brother, the family returned to Nowata. Jack attended High School in Nowata and graduated in 1946.
Jack volunteered to join the Army December 23, 1942 and was sent to Fort Sill Reception Center. He served 18 months in Greenland during WWII. After the war, he was stationed at Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia where he met his future wife, Ruth Estelle Thomas. They were married on June 9, 1945. Their first son, Charles, was born while they were still stationed in GA. Later that year Jack was stationed at Camp Roberts, CA and reconnected with his Dad who was living in Chico, CA. When discharged from the Army, Jack and Estelle moved to Nowata in April of 1946. Their second son, Tom was born in Nowata.
Jack worked for Pure Oil Company for 10 years. After that Jack and Estelle bought and ran the Hickory House for a year before purchasing a drive-in which became known as the Dugger Dairy Dell. They operated that drive-in for 10 years. When the drive-in was sold, they later bought and ran another drive-in in Talala, OK.
Jack served as District 2 County Commissioner in Nowata County for 14 years. He retired and enjoyed travel and drinking coffee with his friends.
Jack is survived by his wife, Ruth Estelle (Thomas) Dugger of the home; and two sons; Charles Dugger and his wife Leigh Ann of Tulsa, OK, Tom Dugger and wife Ann of Stillwater, OK; five grandchildren, Mike Dugger of Danville, VA, Jim Dugger and wife Emily of Dallas, TX., Beth Matlock of Broken Arrow, OK, Katey Barron of Rogers, AR, Ginna Hensley of San Diego, CA; One brother, John Adair of Mobile, AL; a sister, Lula Vance of Crane, TX., and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Charles Dugger and Leona (Sexton) Dugger Adair, three sisters, Edna Dugger Gay, Lucy Dugger Fleming, and Pauline Dugger Price.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Benjamin Funeral Service. Online condolences may be left at honoringmemories.com.