Samuel "Sam" Leroy Tugman

Samuel "Sam" Leroy Tugman, 67, of Morganton, NC passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Mission St. Joseph Hospital in Asheville, NC. Born April 14, 1945 in Caldwell County, NC, he was the son of the late Leroy M. Tugman and Elizabeth Dellinger Tugman. Sam was a member of Dula Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday school superintendent, and Sunday school teacher. He was a graduate of Freedman High School in Lenoir and later served as custodian supervisor for Freedom High School in Morganton He was also a bus driver for 48 years and a custodian and landscaper for the Burke County Highway Patrol Station.Sam is survived by his grandchildren, Tye and Torrie Tugman of Morganton; a brother, James Tugman of Lenoir, NC; sisters, Martha Brown, Alice Gilreath, Thelma Tugman, and Norma Tugman, all of Lenoir; an uncle, LaFont Tugman; and nephews and other family.In addition to his parents, Sam was preceded in death by his son, Samuel "Kin" Tugman; a brother, Jimmy Tugman; and a niece, Anne Brown.

The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, March 24, 2013 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with the Rev. Herbert Carter, the Rev. Robert Hayes, and the Rev. Valerie Hightower officiating. Burial will follow in the Bush Town Community Cemetery in Lenoir. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service. At other times the family will be receiving friends at the home of his sisters, 1361 Old North Road, Lenoir.