He was born in Augusta, Kansas, May 23, 1919. He graduated from high school in Oklahoma City in 1936. He served in the U.S. Navy Air Force during WWII for 3 ½ years and has been a pilot for over 50 years.
He served as past Chairman of the Board of Pumpelly Oil, LLC and Pumpelly Tire, LLC.
He also served as past president of Boy’s Village, YMCA, Lake Charles Credit Bureau, Calcasieu Area Safety Counsel, Calcasieu Area of Boy Scouts of America, Calcasieu Area American Heart, La. Oil Marketers, Inc.
He was past board member of Calcasieu Area Chamber of Commerce, United Fund, Crime Stoppers, La. Saving & Loan, Samaritan Counseling Center, Downtown Rotary Club, Gideon’s International, Fourth Ave. Church of God, Foreman Reynaud YMCA, Mid America Christian University, Calcasieu Cameron Association for Persons with Orthopedic Disabilities, Advisory Board Calcasieu Community of Clinic. He was the past President and board member for 45 years of Mid-American Christian University.
He was a member of the American Legion, served as Sunday School Superintendent, teacher and board member of Christ Community Church. He was currently attending Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Awards include Foreman Reynaud YMCA Man of the Year, 1982; Chamber of Commerce Civic Service Award, 1981; Rotarian of the year, Downtown Club, 1960; Beta Gamma Sigma Recognition Award, McNeese 1992; Lake Charles East Rotary, Jack Harris Award 1988; Angel Award, Blue Cross Blue Shield, 1997; Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Mid America Christian University Oklahoma City, OK in 1981; Boy Scouts Silver Beaver Award 1975; Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award 1990; Della Krause Thielen Foundation Citizen of Year and Founders Circle Award 1998; Honored by the Lake Charles Optimist Club at Annual Golf Tournament, 1998; YMBC Club Citizen of the Year 1982.
He was married to Vida Vincent in 1941 that preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife Ruth Pumpelly; children Jane Brumby and Glenn Pumpelly; 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; brother, Charles Pumpelly of Houston, Texas; 3 sisters, Marie Arnett of Westlake, Lois Hoyler of Lake Charles and Sylvia Dunn of Lake Charles.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 18 at 11:00am at Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles. Reverend Cliff Sanders and Reverend Francis LaRocque will officiate. Pallbearers are Turner Brumby, Gray Pumpelly, Steven Hooks, James R. Snow, Ray Yerkey and Paul Fetzer. Burial will be at Prien Memorial Park. Visitation will be Thursday 4pm – 8pm and Friday from 8am until service time. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Gideons International, Mid-America Christian University or the McNeese Foundation. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
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