Toddy Puller

Toddy Puller is the widow of author Lewis Puller, and a member of the Virginia legislature.

The daughter of a career Army officer, Toddy Puller graduated from Mary Washington College. She then taught fourth grade in Woodbridge.

Toddy married Lewis Puller, a young Marine on his way to the Vietnam War. Less than three months into his tour in Vietnam and only a few months after they were married, he was nearly killed by a booby trap. He lost both of his legs and six of his fingers.

Lewis earned his law degree from William and Mary. Afterwards, they settled with their son and daughter in Northern Virginia. Toddy was actively involved as a volunteer in the schools, the PTA, the United Community Ministries and numerous other organizations.

The book Fortunate Son, written by Lewis about his life experiences, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992. For more than 25 years after he was severely wounded in Vietnam, he was confined to a wheelchair and battled ongoing depression and constant pain. Finally, it ended when he took his own life. Yet during those years Lewis helped countless people and touched the lives of everyone who knew him.

Toddy enjoys visiting with son Lewis, who is a golf professional and travels a lot, and daughter Maggie, son-in-law Phil, and grandsons Benjamin and Charlie, who live in Williamsburg, Virginia.