Bryant Nugent Jr

Bryant Jesse Nugent Jr., 86, of Paducah died Saturday, February 12, 2011, at Lourdes hospital.

He was born in Louisville on March 16, 1924 to the late Bryant Jesse Nugent Sr. and Ellen Davies Nugent. He started working at the Hawesville post office while he was still in high school. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and from 1942-45 served in the American-European and Philippine theaters during World War II. Following his military service, he returned to postal service in Hawesville. In November 1958 he was appointed Acting Postmaster. In 1961, he received official appointment as Postmaster from President Kennedy with confirmation by the U.S. Senate. He retired from the USPS in 1979 after 40 years of employment with the Federal Government.

After retirement, Bryant drove a city bus for PATS, was a security escort for USEC and volunteered for the Red Cross as a blood deliverer and at Western Baptist Hospital as a transporter. Since 1948, Bryant had been a deacon at Hawesville Baptist Church, Immanuel Baptist Church (Paducah) and Lone Oak First Baptist Church. He was also an avid golfer.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Helen Krahwinkel Nugent; a daughter, Helen N. Moss and husband William H. Moss of Paducah; a son, Richard L. Nugent and wife Marilyn of Lubbock, Texas; a sister, Jean N. Raley of Hardinsburg, Ky.; five grandchildren, Stacey Allgood, Jason Hickey, Melanie Mintz, Christopher Nugent and Kimberly Nugent; four great-grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and five stepgreat-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, Robert D. Nugent.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner & Orr Funeral Home with Dr. Willis Henson and Dr. Dan Summerlin officiating. Burial with military rites will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 4 until 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.milnerandorr.com.