Isiah E Pugh

Isiah Eugene “Gene” Pugh Jr., the second child of the late Army Master Sergeant Isiah Eugene Pugh, Sr. and Bettie Davis Pugh, was born on July 20, 1944 in Fort Benning, GA. Gene spent most of his youth traveling with his military family.  He attended Balboa Junior High School in the Panama Canal Zone, where he received the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow and became a Life Boy Scout, the second highest attainable rank in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).  His participation in scouting led to a lifelong passion. 

He completed his secondary education at Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland in 1964 as a member of the first multi-cultural graduation in Maryland.  He attended Morgan State University before transferring to Bowie State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Gene was a well-respected leader and a true friend to Scouting; he held a number of leadership positions at the unit and district levels. He was serving as the BSA Patuxent District Commissioner, guiding scouts and adult leaders in Prince George's County and Charles County, when tragedy struck on October 24, 2017 and he succumbed to internal injuries.  According to the Patuxent District Chair, “The last conversation I had with Isaiah [sic] was about Scouting. He spoke about how proud he was of the job his Commissioner team was doing in their role supporting the 3,000 Scouts in our District.”

He was very family-oriented and faithfully traveled to the bi-annual Pugh Family reunions in various locations since the first reunion in the late 1970s.  Those who were privileged to know him will remember his friendly, loving, and peaceful mannerisms.  He could converse with anyone on any subject—at length.  His broad smiles and laughter brought sunshine into the lives of each and everyone he knew. In particular, he spent countless hours offering wise counsel to his children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.   He loved interacting with young people and taught them the importance of family through chats and by example. The courage of his faith, leadership, and time invested in numerous lives will forever be remembered.

Gene was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.  He married Karen Yvonne Webb on May 1, 1965; to this union three children were born.  He married Jean Artis Harris on July 20, 1980, over twenty years after he first met her as a teenager in 1959.  Together they have two children. Following a long illness, Jean preceded him in death in December 2014. 

He dedicated his life to Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of the Fort Washington Baptist Church, where he was a member of FWBC – Mighty Men of God choir.  An inspiring leader in his community, he also served as Vice President of the Community Civic Association. He retired from the United States Postal Service, as manager of transport operations at the Central Avenue, MD facility, after 40 years of service.

Gene leaves to cherish his memory: three sons, Isiah E. “Buster” Pugh III, Robert (Tenesha) Pugh, Sr., and Christopher (Latonya) Pugh; two daughters, Tiffany D. Pugh and Monique “Nikki” (Emmanuel) Hill; three aunts, Alice Pugh, Bernice Pugh and Catherine Pugh; a special friend, Ms. Florence Roseborough; and twelve grandchildren. His extended family includes a host of cousins and cherished friends from all walks of his life. His two brothers, Anthus Pugh and Ronald Pugh, preceded him in death. 

Donations in Gene’s honor can be made to the National Capital Area Council of the BSA Memorial Tribute Fund,   https://www.ncacbsa.org/support-scouting/tributes-and-memorials/.

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