Published: May 10, 2007 03:00 pm      

May 11, 2007 obituaries

Jerry F. Pugh

June 14, 1934 — April 22, 2007

Jerry Franklin Pugh, 72, of Crossville, passed away April 22, 2007. Memorial services were held April 25 from the chapel of Bilbrey Funeral Home, with Bro. Junior Pugh officiating.

Mr. Pugh was born June 14, 1934, in Barberton, OH, the son of Jesse Alonzo and Ruby (Fields) Pugh.

Survivors include his brothers and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Beverly Pugh and Paul Pugh, all of Crossville.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Lola Reagan and Dorothy Stamps; and brother, Henry Pugh.

Bilbrey Funeral Home, Inc. was in charge of the arrangements.



Ruth E. Skoglund-Swenson

July 9, 1911 — May 4, 2007

Ruth "Elsa" Skoglund-Swenson, 95, of Crossville, passed away May 4, 2007. Funeral services were held May 7 from the chapel of Bilbrey Funeral Home, with the Rev. Roland Smith officiating and many family members and friends in attendance. Burial is taking place at Hope Cemetery in Roseau, MN, where she lived for many years after immigrating from Sweden in 1938.

Mrs. Skoglund-Swenson was born in Mark, Sweden, a small village in Lappland, near the Arctic Circle in Northern Sweden. She came to Roseau County, MN, to visit her sister in 1938, at the age of 27, with the intention of going back to Sweden after a one-year visit in the U.S. During her time in America, she worked as a housekeeper for a couple in Roseau. They took her along to California, where she met Martin Swenson, who was also from Sweden. They were married in St. Paul, MN, in December 1939, and she became a U.S. citizen shortly afterwards.

Four children were born to Martin and Elsa. They are Rachel Swenson-McKeel, Donald Swenson, Richard Swenson and Ruth Ann Swenson-Waggener.

Preceding her in death are Elsa's husband Martin and a 4 1/2-year-old son, Richard. She was also preceded in death by 10 brothers and sisters and her parents in Sweden. Her surviving family includes six grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Elsa lived in Crossville from 2005-2007. Before coming to Tennessee, she spent over 20 years in Oxford, OH. Previous residences also included Madison, WI, and several towns in Minnesota. She leaves behind many friends and relatives in the places she has lived.

Elsa's love of music and singing were a blessing to her, as well as her friends and acquaintances throughout her life. She sang solos in many churches and at several special events, including three of her grandchildren's weddings and a nephew's wedding. She was the niece of "Lapp-Lisa" (Anna-Lisa Ost), a famous Swedish folk and gospel singer who was well-known in Sweden during the 1940s to the '60s. She was also well-known among Swedish immigrants in the U.S. During a concert tour in Chicago in the early '60s, Elsa sang with her aunt Lapp-Lisa. Elsa also worked as a master cook for several colleges and schools in Minnesota, and friends and family remember her wonderful meals, served with great skill and attention to culinary detail.

During her time in Crossville, Elsa attended Central Baptist Church. She was a lifelong generous supporter of missions and Christian charities throughout the U.S., as well as supporting the various churches she attended.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Elsa to be given to The Salvation Army, regional headquarters in Akron, OH. Credit card donations can be made by calling 1-800-725-2769. Local donations can be made to the Salvation Army of Cumberland County at 2514 Lantana Road in Crossville, phone 788-3414, or any other local chapter in your area.



David J. Wagner

Oct. 15, 1954 — May 5, 2007

David John Wagner, 52, of Fairfield Glade, passed away May 5, 2007. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 14, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fairfield Glade. The family will receive friends from 9-11 a.m. prior to the service at Hood Funeral Home.

Mr. Wagner was born Oct. 15, 1954, in Atlantic City, NJ, the son of Leland and Eleanor Matteoni Wagner.

He worked many years as a carpenter with Henry Willis Construction and later with Freitag Construction. He was also a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. He enjoyed football and was a great fan of NASCAR. He was a devoted husband and father who loved his family very much.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl Lynn Wagner of Fairfield Glade; mother, Eleanor Mooney of Lynnwood, NJ; son, John Mattis of Ocean City, NJ; daughter, Genevieve Mattis of Knoxville; brothers, Leland Wagner, Mark Wagner and John Wagner; sisters, Rosemary Giggliotti, Mary Garfinkle, Leonora Humphries and Michelle Mooney, all of New Jersey; and grandchildren, Desirae Mattis and Jaden Bunn.

Hood Funeral Home and Crematory, LLC was in charge of the arrangements.

www.hoodfuneralhome.com



Lura Warner

Dec. 23, 1928 — May 7, 2007

Lura “Jean” Warner, 78, of Harriman, passed away May 7, 2007. Funeral services were held May 10 from the chapel of Evans Mortuary of Rockwood, with the Rev. Jeff Jenkins officiating.

Mrs. Warner was born Dec. 23, 1928 in Knoxville, the daughter of Jesse “Jack” and Cora Lee Cannon Mason.

She loved the game of golf and was very active in the East Tennessee Women’s Golf Association. She was a loving mother and wife who loved life and her family. Mrs. Warner was a great cook and a better golfer.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Richard Warner of Roane County; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Jack and Dee Warner of Roane County; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Joel Garrett of Fayetteville, TN; granddaughters, Dr. Breigh Burns and husband Darren of Roane County and Lura Mitchell of Fayetteville; and great-granddaughter, Aubree Burns of Roane County.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial donations may be made, by all those who love the game, to the U.T. Athletics Department Women’s Golf Team, c/o Linda Lewis, Jean Warner Memorial Fund, 1551 Lake Loudon Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37996.

Evans Mortuary of Rockwood was in charge of the arrangements.