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Lt. Col. Hal M. Scrugham, Sr.
USAFR (Ret.) December
31, 1918 - August 20, 2011 17th Troop Carrier Squadron World War II |
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Hal M. Scrugham,
Sr., World War II pilot and engineer, went to be with his Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ on August 20, 2011. He was 92 years old. To God alone be the glory for the blessings of his life and legacy of
service for Him. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48
years, Elizabeth Middleton Scrugham; his parents,
Richard S. Scrugham, Sr., and Frances Scrugham; and his siblings, Nancy S. Beck and Richard Scrugham, Jr. He is survived by his children, Richard T.
(Sandi) Scrugham, Sr., of Maryville, TN; Nancy Scrugham of Nashville, TN; Lisa S. (Campbell) McKeague of Greenville; Susan S. Harden of Citronelle;
and Hal Scrugham, Jr., of Talladega, AL; by seven
grandchildren: Richard (Jennifer) Scrugham, Jr., of
Knoxville, TN; Jennifer S. (Rick ) Holbert of
Learned, MS; Dr. Jeffrey (Lauren) Scrugham of
Memphis, TN; and Sean and Christen McKeague of
Greenville; and by eleven great-grandchildren: Daniel, Andrew and Matthew Scrugham and Ryan and Alexander Overman
of Knoxville, TN; Stephen, Ansley, Sadie and Emma Holbert of Learned, MS; and Langston and Edward Scrugham of Memphis, TN. Other survivors include his
brother-in-law Francis T. Middleton of Collirene,
nieces Nora E. Beck of Nashville, TN, Phyllis B. (John) Niemi
of Eddyville, KY; Leanne (Sandy) Harrell and Barbara (Rob) Haigler of Hayneville; Kathy (Robbie) Nichols of Letohatchee; one nephew, Frank (Julie) Middleton of
Selma, and numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews. LTC Scrugham, a
native of Lexington, KY, graduated from Franklin County High School in Bald Knob,KY and from the University
of Kentucky, with a degree in civil and mining engineering. He served in four
theaters in World War II (Europe/North Africa, Sicily, Asian Pacific (India/Burma)
and Southern France), earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals
for service with the 17th Troop Carrier Squadron, US Army Air
Corps 64th Troop Carrier Group. He retired from the USAF Reserves in 1978. He
moved to Greenville in 1967 after holding positions in his mining engineer
career with U.S. Steel Corporation in Birmingham, West Virginia, and
Kentucky. He retired from Union Camp (Chapman) where he served as plant
engineer and environmental consultant. He remained active as a land surveyor
and forester until age 82. He was a long-time member and deacon of
First Baptist Church, Greenville, where he taught the Fellowship men’s Sunday
School class for many years. Class members will serve as honorary
pallbearers. Other pallbearers will be Dwight Faulk, Larry Philpot, grandsons
and great-nephews, with military honor guard. Visitation will be at
Dunklin-Daniels Funeral Home in Greenville on Thursday, August 25th, 6 to 8
p.m.., and on Friday, August 26th, at First Baptist Church at 1:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be at the church at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Rick Holbert will officiate, assisted by Revs. Paul McClendon
and Elwood Sims. Graveside services will be at Collirene
Hill Cemetery at 4:30 p.m. Editor’s
Note: Hal Scrugham
was the “historical” pilot flying a C-47 in World War II which was given
credit for downing a Japanese Zero. (http://www.firebirds.org/menu1/thezero.htm) |
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