Don Ruggles departed this earth on March 4, 2025. He was born and raised in Hope, Arkansas. He is predeceased by his parents, five brothers and sisters, his first wife Jeanne Hunnicutt Ruggles, and their son, Tony Ruggles. He was a graduate of Hope High School and Henderson State University, obtaining a BS degree and commission as an Army Lieutenant.
He worked for Roche Labs for 25 years, but also retired as a Lt Colonel, US Army. Ruggles earned his Army aviator wings at Ft Rucker, Alabama in both fixed wing and helicopters in 1962 while achieving more than 26,000 hours of flying. He was awarded the Master Army Aviation badge, expert field medical badge, and the army commendation medal along with other awards and decorations. He served two tours of active duty during the Vietnam Era flying medevac helicopters, while later commanding an Army Helicopter unit.
Ruggles was a proud member of the Kappa Sigma Kappa Fraternity, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, board member of the Texarkana Airport Authority, Special Olympics, Arkansas Economic Commission, Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, Miller County Quorum Court, Miller County Republican Committee, MOAA, and received the Distinguished Alumni Award Henderson State University as well as the Wilbur Award, for Leadership Texarkana. He was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame.
Ruggles was the founder of Air Life Helicopter of Texarkana, 1983, which later became LifeNet, the very first LifeNet helicopter pilot in Arkansas. Since its beginning, LifeNet has saved countless lives in the four states area. Don loved his hometown of Hope and spent much of his later years there on the family farm. He never met a stranger and always gave the downtrodden a lift, train ticket, or a meal. He was tickled to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Hope Veteran’s Day parade last year. Don had a peculiar knack for getting heavy equipment stuck in mud holes, but many memories were made during the rescues. He is survived by his wife, Mary Yancey Ruggles; Children, Donna Jean Ruggles and Gail Ruggles Griffith, Leigh Hanning Ellis, John Hanning, and Doug Hanning, plus numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held Friday, 7 March at First United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM. Viewing is provided by East Funeral Home (Moore’s Lane) Thursday from 1 to 8 pm. Memorial preferences are LifeNet or First United Methodist Church, Texarkana, AR. Condolences may be left at www.eastfuneralhome.com.
