Duane Merle Bugbee, Capt. USMC Ret., Husband, Father, and grandfather, passed away in Hendersonville, NC on Monday, May 30, 2022 at the age of 91.
In addition to his parents, Duane was preceded in death by his brother, James Bugbee, Lt Col. USMC Ret.
A native of Old Lyme CT, Duane was born in March of 1931 to the late Merle and Alice Bugbee. He attended Old Lyme Highschool where he participated in all sports and excelled in basketball. Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1949, he proudly served our country for 21 years rising from Private to Sergeant then Warrant Officer and Captain. Duane served tours of duty in Japan, Okinawa, the Mediterranean, Cuban Missile Crisis and two tours in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star with, V and Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with V. Upon retiring from the Marines, he worked several jobs before attending Eastern Connecticut State College, graduating in 1979. He then became an Education Coordinator for City Colleges of Chicago who provided functional skills and college level courses to naval personnel aboard ship and ashore. Contract competition ended this job that he had enjoyed, and it was landscape maintenance until moving to Florida in 1993. After several years of retirement and boredom, Duane went back to work for a Criminal Defense Attorney as a legal assistant. In 2006 Duane and Marie moved back to NC where they had previously lived from 1997-1998 as well as many years at Camp Lejeune, NC.
Duane inherited a strong love of country from his parents and his American ancestry dating to 1634. He had a deep interest in history, especially the Civil War and the experiences of soldiers with both North and South. He was an avid runner/walker for many years no matter the temperature or where he was. UCONN men and women basketball could find no greater fan than Duane. Editing and publishing the CPHOA monthly newsletter, TownTalk brought him great pleasure and challenge for many years, To “never give up” was his attitude and only failing health diminished this attribute.
Duane, “Bug”, as he was called in the Marines was Chairman of the Old Lyme Korean & Vietnam Wars Plaque Committee, Old Lyme Field Service Scholarship Committee, President and Board member Indian River FL. Chapter TROA/MOOA, Member of Board of Directors CPHOA 2013-2014, member of the VFW, AL and past member of Marine Corps League and Devil Dogs were but some of his associations and accomplishments.
Left behind are his high school sweetheart and wife of 69 years, Marie; their three children, Patricia (Jose) Amram, Steven Bugbee and Kevin Bugbee; grandson, Arron Amram, Sgt, US Army.
A Funeral Mass will be at 3:00 pm Friday, June 3, 2022 in Our Lady of the Angel Chapel at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Hendersonville, NC. Burial will be private.
