Thomas Joseph Dugger

How do you write about the life of a man whose passing has left us feeling so lost and broken? We will try …

Tom Dugger was born on October 19,1953, in Birmingham, Alabama to Ira Thomas and Elizabeth Ann Dugger. He had an older sister, Mary Ann (Trimble), who he dearly loved. He went to school in Hueytown, Alabama, and became a Boy Scout at the local Methodist church. With his parents’ love and encouragement, he went through the scouting program and became an Eagle Scout and an enthusiastic member of Order of the Arrow.

Tom graduated from the University of Alabama. He was a true and loyal fan of the Crimson Tide (Roll Tide!). Following graduation, and a brief period of time working for a local historic museum, Tom started his career with the Boy Scouts in Birmingham, Alabama, a career that took him around the world. He served in councils in Birmingham, Alabama; Albany, Georgia; the National Scout Office in Irving Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and finally in Cincinnati, Ohio. From 1990-1992, he served as the executive assistant to the Director General of the World Scout Foundation in Geneva, Switzerland.

It was at Boy Scouts of America that Tom and I met. I was his Computer Instructor and he was my student. We married on April 3, 1993. Tom’s strong faith in God and commitment to our shared Catholic faith guided our new marriage through both sorrow and joy. We welcomed the birth of William Thomas in 1996 and Joseph Paul in 1999. Our hearts were full. Tom proved to be the most attentive, loving, and adoring father. He couldn’t wait until the boys were able to become Tiger Cubs and start into the Scouting Program. He loved being a Scout dad and proved it by going to every meeting and every campout. The boys always knew their dad would not be far away, no matter what the activity was. He coached, cheered, guided and encouraged them in every interest and endeavor they had, all the way from Elementary to Grad School and beyond. Here are their stories …

William Thomas: To me, Dad was – and still is – my first-ever best friend, my life coach, and the most amazing father that a son could ever ask for. As my dad, he was not just invested in what I pursued in my life, but passionate about it too. From the first walk down the hall to Pre-School, to the last walk across the stage at Graduate School. From Tiger Cubs to Eagle Scout. From my first part-time job in Mason, Ohio, to launching my professional career in Nashville, Tennessee. In all these things, it was my Dad who was my compass rose, sharing his wise counsel and cheering me on with each step. Dad’s love reached higher and spread wider than any mountain range he took me to, and he was never afraid to express that love. There was not one day that went by, whether good or bad, where Dad did not act on that love. Every action he took was delivered with love. Every memory coated with love. Every word filled with love. He loved his family, and he loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Joseph Paul: My Dad was my biggest cheerleader, my closest confidant and my best friend. He was present at all of my big life events, and all the small ones too, which, looking back were just as important as the big ones. No matter whether it was a choir concert, a school play, a scouting event, or a football game, he was there in the front row cheering me on. He instilled in me a love of God, country and family and instilled in me the values of patriotism, faith and integrity. Through the guidance of his example, I hope to someday be the type of husband and father that hopefully would make him proud.

For me, Tom my best friend and the absolute love of my life. For 33 years, I have been loved, honored, and cherished by Tom. He filled every day with joy and laughter. Tom would always say, “I want to be God’s good servant, your good husband, be a good dad to those boys, and do a good job in my work”. He succeeded. He loved the Lord with all of his heart, he loved God’s word, and he loved people. He loved gardening, painting, music, singing, and admiring the beauty of God’s creation. His wisdom, humor, laughter, and fighting spirit carried him when others would have easily given up. Our hearts are broken that he’s gone, we already miss him so much, but it gives us great comfort to know that he is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and is now forever in God’s care.

In our closest family circle, our grief is shared by his surviving sister Mary Ann and her husband, Stanley Trimble, his nephews Warren Trimble, Phillip Trimble, and his niece, McKenna Trimble; he is also survived by his sisters-in-law Jeanette McKee and Nancy McKee. Our deepest gratitude to friends and family for your love and prayers as we grieve the loss of this incredible man.

Public visitation to be held at Newcomer Funeral Home (3380 Dayton Xenia Rd) on Thursday June 11, 2026 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held the following day at St. John Bosco Catholic Chapel (3650 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn, OH 45324) at 12:30 pm. He will be laid to rest at Woodland Cemetery in Xenia, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Tom's memory to St. John Bosco Catholic Campus Ministry, Samaritans Purse or Philmont Scout Ranch. 

Checks may also be mailed to:

Philmont Scout Ranch

Attn: Tom Dugger Memorial

17 Deer Run Road

Cimarron, NM 87714