Damon Lester Fuqua, 96, of Gulf Shores died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. Damon was born on Dec. 30, 1915, in Brewton, and moved to Gulf Shores in 1937 with the Civilian Conservation Corps.
He served in the U.S. Navy four years during WWII and returned to Gulf Shores. He retired in 1970 from Naval Air Station Pensacola as an Aviation Mechanic with the Civil Service.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Bernice Fuqua; son and daughter-in-law Donald and Connie Fuqua; six grandchildren, Dana Fuqua, Heather Fuqua Glynn, Laura Burris, Robert Sapp, Dean Seeley and George Kilgore; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Sara Emily and Lawrence Benjamin Fuqua of Brewton; son, Robert Lester, and daughter Retha Ellen; two sisters and eight brothers.
He was an avid outdoorsman and joked that when he retired he wanted Marlin Perkins’ job so he hunted and fished as long as he could. Spending time in his vegetable garden was another of his passions.
People would stop by the house to ask about his garden and leave with a bag of food; oftentimes, these were perfect strangers.
In the late 50s and early 60s he coached little league baseball through American Legion. He coached the men’s and women’s teams at First Baptist Church in Gulf Shores and won the championship title nine out of 10 years. He was a great fan of both the Atlanta Braves and Alabama football.
Damon was a charter member of the First Baptist Church in Gulf Shores, a proud charter member of American Legion Post 44, a member of the Elberta VFW Post 5658 and a member of the Foley Masonic Lodge.
Funeral services were Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the chapel of Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley. Interment was at Pine Rest Memorial park, Foley.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Disabled American Veterans.
Donations can be made via the website at dav.org/donate/MemorialHonoraryGifts.aspx.
