Ruth Estelle Dugger

Ruth Estelle Dugger, passed away September 17, 2024. She was born September 25, 1927, the daughter of Eli C. and Josie Towns Thomas, of Dublin, Georgia. She was the granddaughter of Watrous G. and Julia C. Howard Towns and Wellington L. and Nora Keen Thomas, all of Dublin, Georgia.

Estelle graduated from North Augusta High School in North Augusta, South Carolina. She worked after school at a drug store in Augusta, Georgia. Upon graduating high school, she worked at Camp Gordon in Augusta. While working at the drug store she met a handsome young soldier, Jack C. Dugger, from Nowata, Oklahoma. He was stationed at Camp Gordon during World War II. They married at North Augusta Baptist Church, on June 9, 1945. When Jack was discharged, he took his wife and their first son (age 6 weeks) to Nowata, where they made their home in 1946. Their second son was born in Nowata on November 10, 1948. Jack worked for Pure Oil Company for 10 years. After that Jack and Estelle bought and ran the Hickory House for a year before purchasing a drive-in which became known as the Dugger Dairy Dell. They operated that drive-in for 10 years. They sold the drive-in and they later bought and ran another drive-in in Talala, Ok.

Estelle was a member of the First Baptist Church in Nowata, where she made many friends at church and in the Nowata Community. She loved playing cards and dominoes with her friends. She was known for her homemade sweets, especially her pies and cinnamon rolls. Estelle enjoyed traveling to many countries with Jack, family, and friends.

Estelle is survived by two sons, Charles Dugger and his wife Leigh Ann, of Afton, Oklahoma, Tom Dugger and wife Ann, of Stillwater, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Mike Dugger of Raleigh, North Carolina, Jim Dugger, of Dallas, Texas, Beth Matlock, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Katey Norris of Bentonville, Arkansas, Ginna Hensley of San Diego California; five great grandchildren; a sister, Nora T. Moon, of Marietta, Georgia; a brother, Walter G. Thomas of Greensboro, North Carolina; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Preceding Estelle in death are her parents Eli and Josie Thomas, her husband Jack, two sisters, Hilda T. Avant, and Dorothy T. Rachels, and a brother Edison C. Thomas.

A visitation for Estelle Dugger will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 9 to 11 a.m., at Benjamin Funeral Service, 114 W. Cherokee, Nowata, Oklahoma 74048. The Celebration of life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Nowata, 433 N. Mississippi, Nowata, Oklahoma, 74048, at 1 pm. with Pastor Wayne Clayton officiating. Interment will follow at Relocated Cemetery in Nowata. The family suggest donations to the American Diabetes Association. Services have been entrusted to Benjamin Funeral Service of Nowata. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemoriesnowata.com