Pritchard, Raymond Paul 1919-2015

PRITCHARD, WILSON, DAMRON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/25/2015 at 20:19:10

Raymond Paul Pritchard
Des Moines

Raymond Paul Pritchard, 95, known to many as Paul, passed away May 18, 2015. He was born in Minburn, Iowa on November 14, 1919, the son of Alex and Maud Pritchard.

Raymond had two brothers, Thomas Rex and Francis Max Pritchard and three sisters Mary, Katherine and Eleanor all who preceded him in death.

Raymond graduated from Bondurant High School in 1937. He joined the United States Army Air Corps and attended bomber school and air mechanic flight engineering school. He was assigned to the 384th Bomb group. He fought valiantly in WW II in many bombing missions. The Honorable Senator Charles Grassley honored Mr. Pritchard by saying he was, "critical to the war effort".

After the war Mr. Pritchard married Helen L. Wilson of Leon, Iowa. They were married for 63 years until her death earlier this year. Raymond worked for 31 years at the Des Moines Post Office, retiring in 1974. Then worked for 2 years for the State of Iowa, Highway Patrol, Dept. of Public Safety, Post 1.

Raymond became a 3rd degree Master Mason on May 31, 1958. He was a 50 year member of Pioneer Masonic Lodge and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. He became a member of the Altoona Za-Ga-Zig Shrine in 1985. He served as Chaplain in the Legion of Honor in 2003. He belonged to Christ United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa and the 8th Air Force Historical Society.

Raymond is survived by three children: Sharon K. Damron of Coronado, California, Alex Lee (Kim) Pritchard of Austin, Texas, and Steven Paul (Michelle) Pritchard of Newton, Iowa; 7 grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 5-7pm, Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Iles Westover Chapel. Funeral and Masonic services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be at Masonic Cemetery Mausoleum, with Military Honors.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Christ United Methodist Church. ~ The Des Moines Register Legacy, Des Moines, Iowa 25 May 2015.