Arthur M. Pugh Sr.

Arthur M. Pugh, Sr., 94, of Southington, CT, passed away peacefully at Hartford Hospital on February 27, 2023. He was born on December 16, 1928 in Birmingham, AL to the late Mary Alice and Marion Grady Pugh, and raised by his mother and second husband David Lee Harris. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mildred Carter Pugh.
Art attended Birmingham Business College before graduating from American Institute of Baking in Chicago in 1954. After several years with Ward Baking Company, he was promoted to Production Superintendent of their Cleveland plant and later held that position at their Pittsburgh, Birmingham, and Baltimore plants. Art moved to Connecticut in 1969 to be Plant Superintendent of Bond Baking in Hartford and two years later became Production Manager of the Reymond Baking Company (Sunbeam Bread) in Waterbury, where he worked for 20 years, retiring in 1971. He was a member of the American Society of Bakery Engineers for 35 years and the Quality Bakers of America for 20 years.
After the death of his first wife Margaret, he married widow Mildred (“Mim”) Carter of Meriden in March 1974 and gained four stepchildren in addition to his son Arthur Jr. Art and Mildred became very interested and active in square dancing for many years, continuing well into their 70s. They joined different area clubs, making many friends, and advanced through the levels of dancing complexity to the Challenge Level. They danced with clubs in Florida on their vacations and their longer visits after retirement. Art and Mim also traveled extensively throughout the eastern U.S. to participate in Masonic conferences and conventions and made many friends in those organizations.
Art began his long involvement with the Masons in 1954 with the East Lake Lodge in Birmingham and joined Masonic entities wherever he lived. He affiliated with Center Lodge in Meriden in 1974, proceeding through the line of offices. He was made a member of St. Elmo Commandery No. 9 in Meriden in 1982 and served as Eminent Commander in 1988 and 1989. Art became a Noble of Sphinx Temple of Hartford in 1988. He was elected a Knights of the York Cross of Honour and became a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of New Haven in 1990. Art was nominated for the 33 Degree award in 1998 and it was awarded in Atlantic City with the class of 1999. In 2001, he was accepted into the St. Andrew’s Conclave Red Cross of Constantine in Hartford. Art reached his highest position and was very proud to serve as the Grand Commander of Connecticut for 2002. While serving as Grand Commander, Art and his wife attended the annual meetings of all Commanderies from Maine to Georgia. Art continued with a number of Masonic groups until moving to the Orchards senior housing in Southington in 2019 but remained as a member for his life.
Art was a member of the First Baptist Church of Southington for almost 50 years. When he was younger, he volunteered at MidState Medical Center and the Southington Soup Kitchen. He was also a loyal fan of the UConn Women’s Basketball Team and the University of Alabama football team. Art was a kind and gentle man and will be missed by family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Mildred and his stepchildren, Ellen Carter, John Carter (Valerie), James Carter (Tracey), and Kathy Chappell (Gene). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jamie, Melissa, Elizabeth, Robert, Jonathan, Grace, Emily and Madelyn, six great-grandchildren, and a special cousin Katherine of Alabama. He was predeceased by his first wife Margaret A. Pugh, his son Arthur M. Pugh, Jr., and his sister Alice Kendrick.
Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Monday, March 6th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Beecher & Bennett-Flatow Funeral Home, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden, CT with a service to be held at 3:00 PM. Donations in his memory may be made to the First Baptist Church of Southington.