James Thomas Tuggle Sr.

James Thomas Tuggle, Sr. -- the fishiest, sweetest and most solid man you’d ever have been lucky enough to know -- reunited forever with his childhood sweetheart Saturday afternoon, September 28, 2013.

Born May 17, 1916, to James C. and Margaret Frances Tuggle in Bernice, La., Tommy came of age during the Great Depression. He persevered through the hardship that gripped the nation with good humor, intelligence and lot of ingenuity. His granddaughter-in-law Jane Duncan recalls Tommy’s tales of hopping a train to get around during his teenage years.

Tommy was a man of his word as far back as anyone can remember. The first time he saw Sudie Dean Odom at Norphlet High School in Norphlet, Ark., he vowed, “I’m going to marry that girl.” On February 6, 1937 he kept that promise.

By the time he retired from the Air Force in 1972, Tommy “Ol’ Sarge” Tuggle was a veteran of three wars: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Tommy was as solid as the aircraft he maintained, but not even those years in world’s war zones could turn him bitter. In fact, they made him even sweeter: a “sugar diabetes” diagnosis by an Air Force doctor cemented the healthy lifestyle that helped him live 97 vibrant years.

Tommy was a true patriot and steadfast defender of the United States. His daughter Rebecca Durrance said, “He taught his children to love the United States of America even with all of its difficulties. He truly believed that there is no better place to live.”

A career of Air Force travel to the South Pacific and Europe made Tommy worldly but not world weary. He never lost his sense of wonder and ability to admire and appreciate the craftsmen and characters with whom he crossed paths.

Tommy was a good guy to call for anyone who wanted to listen to a little harmonica, learn how to install a ceiling fan, get some help loading an iPod or find a home for a stray cat or dog. He nurtured two stray dogs of his own late in life: the beloved Cocoa and Dude. However, Tommy’s real area of expertise was bass fishing.

Decades of early morning fishing trips with Papaw Tommy taught his five children and 12 grandchildren patience, the joy of sunrises over Toledo Bend, and the appreciation of simple fisherman’s pleasures.

Grandson Terry Duncan learned to love the taste of Diet Shasta Cola infused with the scent of fresh fish -- pulled straight from a fish cooler. “I know there must be lots of big bass in those heavenly lakes and in no time he will have them plotted with the precise temperatures and conditions,” Terry said.

Until that fish cooler was packed, the only big mouths on Papaw Tommy’s boat were the bass. But once the fish were on their way to becoming filets, he delighted in turning his utilitarian boat into a party machine that pulled generations of skiers, tubers and boogie boarders.

Tommy would do whatever it took to make those he loved happy. He loved to laugh and was as generous with his time as he was with his all of his well-earned worldly gifts. His grandson Ben Durrance talked to him almost everyday and recalls every phone conversation ending with a simple question, “Do you need anything?”

Tommy is walking into the heavenly home that’s been prepared for him by his late wife of 70 years, Sudie Dean Odom Tuggle. He is survived by son William D. Tuggle (wife Elizabeth, children Bill and Greg); daughter Lilian Frances Duncan (husband Les, children Les, Derek and Terry); daughter Rebecca Ann Durrance (husband Sam, children Ben and Susan); daughter Mary Elizabeth Schwartz (husband David, children Josiah and AnnaClaire); daughter-in-law Peggy Tuggle (children Tom, Laura and Heather); and 25 great grandchildren as well as many in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and too numerous to list but not forgotten. He is preceded in death by his first born son, James T. Tuggle, Jr., his brother Edward C. Tuggle and his sisters, Nita Moffit and Claire Keith.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 2 from 5-7 p.m. at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home in Haughton, La. A graveside memorial will be held Thursday, October 3 at 1 p.m. at Hill Crest. Burial will be with full military honors.

The family expresses its heartfelt thanks to both the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreverport, La., and the Tuscaloosa, Ala., VA Community Living Center and Hospice for the loving care given to Tommy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the VA Medical Center of the donor’s choice. Information is online at http://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/.