Vernon Watson Pugh Jr.

Watson or “Doc” as he was known by his friends, was born March 26, 1927 in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, son of Vernon Watson Pugh, Sr. and Pearl Mae Murphy.

Watson attended Broughton High School and graduated in 1944.

Watson attended medical school at the University of North Carolina and received his Bachelor of Science in 1951. In 1953, Dr. Pugh received his MD from Thomas Jefferson University Medical School.

Dr. Pugh served a residency at Rex Hospital and Babies Hospital in Wilmington, NC. In September 1956, Dr. Pugh joined his sister’s pediatric practice in Raleigh. He retired as the senior partner of Oberlin Road Pediatrics in Raleigh in 2002.

Dr. Pugh served actively in the Army reserve from 1944 to 1968 and was honorably discharged at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Dr. Pugh married Frances Plimpton in 1957 at Christ Episcopal Church in Guilford, Connecticut. They started their family in Raleigh and raised five fine children, Vernon, Holly, Fred, Eric and Walter.

Dr. Pugh has enjoyed many of his retirement years in making friends in the mountains of North Carolina.

Watson, is survived by his wife, Frances, his Son, Vernon W. Pugh, III (Tina), daughter, Holly Pugh Johnson (David), daughter-in-laws, Robin Pugh and Joy Kontos, grandchildren, Kristina Pugh, Katerina Pugh, Carl Johnson III (Alena), Chase Johnson, Anna Pugh, Erin Pugh, Eric Pugh, great grandchildren, Carl Johnson IV and Adam Johnson. He was preceded in death bt three sons, Eric Winslow Pugh, Frederick DeShong Pugh and Walter Kirkpatrick Pugh.

A memorial service will be held at a future date. Condolences may be left at www.brownwynnemillbrook.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation “in memory of V. Watson Pugh” to: The Pugh Family Fund, service the children of Ravenscroft, 7409 Falls of the Neuse Rd., Raleigh NC 27615, or The American Chestnut Foundation (tacf.org), 50 N. Merrimom Ave. STE 115, Ashville, NC 28804 or a charity of one’s choice.