Cecil Logwood Puckette

Colonel Cecil Logwood Puckette, 96, of Lynchburg, Virginia passed away July 22, 2026. He was the son of the late Robert Leonard Puckette and Bessie Ripley Puckette. Colonel Puckette was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, December 15, 1929.

He is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 73 years, Carolyn Hamilton Puckette; three children: James Alvin Puckette and his wife Nancy, of Pleasant Valley, NY; Linda Puckette Hilleary of Chandler, Arizona and Susan Puckette Hagreen and her husband Mark Hagreen of Carnation, Washington; six grandchildren: Nicole Puckette, Annalise Puckette Capano and husband Craig, Sara Hilleary Tannahill and husband Mike, Travis Hilleary, Ryan Hagreen and wife Taylor, Timothy Hagreen and wife Linda; three great grandchildren: Gianni James Capano, Fabio Foss Capano, Lily Anne Hagreen.

Colonel Puckette was a graduate of E.C.Glass High School, the Virginia Military Institute, the British Army Transportation School of Logistics, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in armor at VMI in June 1953. In the course of his Army career, he received 26 separate assignments to include the command of five different companies, command of a battalion, command of a port, division transportation officer for the First Cavalry Division in Vietnam, coordinator of South East Asia airlift outside of Vietnam, numerous staff assignments to include the assignment of transportation officers worldwide; development and coordination of the logistics contingency war plan for the 32 countries of NATO; and coordination of Department of Defense movements in the continental United States.

His foreign assignments included four years in Germany, three years in France, one year in England, one year in Greenland and two years in Vietnam. Colonel Puckette was promoted to full Colonel in June 1974, and he retired from the Army in April 1980.

Decorations awarded to him include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Department of Defense Joint Service Commendation medal, and three United States Army Commendation medals.

After retirement from the Army, he served as the personnel director of the Central Virginia Training Center for over ten years. Colonel Puckette was a past President of the Seattle chapter of the National Defense Transportation Association. He was a member of the American Legion and a member and past President of the Lynchburg Exchange Club. Colonel Puckette was a 32nd degree Mason with over 50 years of service. He was a member, director and Deacon of the Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church for many years. He was currently a member of Beulah Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 2 pm at Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory in Lynchburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Beulah Baptist Church, 528 Leesville Rd, Lynchburg, Virginia 24502