Robert Lloyd Pugh

Robert Lloyd "Bob" Pugh of Fort Collins passed away on June 30, 2011 after several years of declining health. At the time of his death he resided in a care facility near his family.
Bob was the first child of three of Lloyd L. and Tressie Pugh of Stratton and was born on March 31st, 1928, at the Pugh Ranch, formerly the Tuttle Ranch, which had been the home of his grandfather and grandmother, John J. and Jane E. Pugh. He was one of 24 cousins in a very close family.
His early life centered on ranching activities and school in the Stratton District. When he was a kindergartner he rode his Shetland pony, Dandy, to school at Sunnyside School, a couple of miles from home, , and in high school, drove an old Model A to get to school in Stratton. When the weather would turn in late fall, he was able to participate more in school activities because the children and mother would move into an apartment in Stratton and go home only on weekends, weather permitting. He loved the drama presentations, playing football and basketball and baseball.
Bob was an earnest, sincere little boy with a wonderful set of dimples and a great smile and was much beloved by all who knew him. Growing up with the nearest telephone 18 miles away makes you very self reliant, resourceful and independent.
Those same characteristics followed him into his next phase of life when he entered the US Army and became a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. He was stationed at Sendai, Japan as part of the occupying forces in Japan and came home with wonderful stories of life in a foreign land. While still in the service in Kentucky, Bob married his life-long love, Della Ann Adolf, on March 8, 1949 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Bethune. At the end of his enlistment Bob and Della returned home to the ranch and lived there until 1958, when the family moved to Stratton. A year later they moved to Aurora, their home until several years ago when Bob's declining health indicated relocation to Fort Collins to be near their son, Mark and daughter Debra.
Bob was mechanically inclined and put those skills to good use as a successful Westinghouse repairman for many years. He later applied that ability to work with the Maintenance Department of the Cherry Creek School District.
Bob loved his family, cowboys, guns, the military (especially the 11th Airborne), little kids, any animal that came his way. He was an avid reader and could well discuss almost any topic. He laughed often and loud and told atrocious jokes. He was a member of the Burlington and Aurora Masonic lodges and was a Past Grand Master.
He is survived by Della, his beloved wife of 61 years, his daughter, Debra Ann Webb (Ft. Collins CO), son Mark and wife Cheryl, and granddaughter Taite (Loveland CO) and son John and wife, Paula (Warner Robins GA), and little sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Keith Idler (University Place WA) and five nieces and nephews and nine cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Lloyd and mother Tressie and younger brother, Bill.
At Bob's request to his family, the only service will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver Colorado on the 2nd of September 2011 – service to begin at 11:00 AM. A grateful country will lay this Westerner to rest with full military honors – he will be missed.