Dorothy Jean Kugler

Dorothy Jean Kugler died on October 28, 2024, in Norman, OK. She was born in Memphis, TN on November 16, 1929, to Grace and Harold Arnold, she grew up in Memphis, TN, St. Louis, MO and Little Rock, AR.

She attended high school in Little Rock and attended Southwestern (now Rhodes College) in Memphis, graduating in 1951 with a BA with Distinction in Spanish. Language enriched her life and, in addition to Spanish, she studied French and Italian. She was a Chi Omega at Southwestern. 

After graduation, Jean was employed as a Flight Attendant with Chicago and Southern Airlines (now Delta Airlines) flying the Caribbean Route to Venezuela, Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and Puerto Rico. In 1953, she was introduced by her brother to his Navy wingman, Ken Kugler. Ken and Jean were married in June 1954. They have two daughters, Tracy and Kathy born in 1958 and 1959. The family lived in such diverse locations as Champaign-Urbana, IL; St. Louis, MO; Pensacola, FL; Sanford, FL; Newport, RI; Ewa Beach, HI; Coronado, CA; Bremerton, WA; Kingsville, TX; and Washington, DC. In 1975 Ken retired from the Navy as Commanding Officer of the OU NROTC unit and the family decided to remain in Norman, OK.

Jean worked for Fred Shellabarger in his architectural office as a secretary and later served as administrative assistant for many years with the Pioneer Library System.

She was active in a number of organizations including Assistance League, OU Opera Guild, OU Friends of Music, and Trails Ladies Golf. She served as Treasurer for each of these organizations. She was also a member of BP chapter of PEO. She loved to travel overseas with her Flamingo friends. Jean enjoyed regular get-togethers for Bridge, Mahjong, and birthdays. Friends and neighbors were very important to her. 

Jean was a member of First Presbyterian Church for more than 30 years. She sang in the Chancel Choir for many years and served as a Deacon, and Elder and on the Board of Trustees. 

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Grace and Harold Arnold, her daughter Tracy Kugler Sharpe and Dick Arnold, Jean’s brother and his wife, Jane. She is survived by her husband Ken, her daughter, Kathy Kugler of Norman, and son-in-law Rev. Jon Sharpe of Levelland, TX and her beloved grandchildren, Paul Sharpe, his wife Camille and their son Bryant, Karin Elle Sharpe and Surafel Sharpe, her brother, William Arnold and his wife, Maxine, of Memphis, TN, and sister -in-law Collette Niermann and her husband Dennis, of Nashville, IL. 

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church. Memorial Donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 555 S. University, Norman, OK 73069; or to the OU Foundation for student scholarships to study in in Arezzo, Italy.