Roy March Pritchard

View Funeral WebcastMr. Roy March Pritchard, 95, former resident of Columbia, died Sunday, January 12, 2014 at Forrest City Medical Center in Forrest City, Arkansas where, due to health problems, he had moved in 2011 to be near one of his sons. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Reverend Tommy Vann and Brother Richard West officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday from 12:00 noon until time of service at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church, 222 West 7th St., Columbia, Tennessee, 38401. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Mr. Pritchard was the third son of the late March L. Pritchard and Myrtle Stewart Pritchard. He was born on March 20, 1918 in Clarksburg, West Virginia near the birthplace of General "Stonewall" Jackson. He was an Eagle Scout with bronze, silver and gold psalms. On April 21, 1939 he married Olive Lee Roy Pritchard who preceded him in death August 5, 2000. He was a graduate of Hemphill Engineering School in Detroit, Michigan and was an employee of Union Carbide Corporation. His work included supervising shipments of material used in producing the atom bomb, a part of the Manhattan Project. In 1957 he was transferred to the Columbia Carbon plant. Mr. Pritchard was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, an associate member of The Fraternal Order of Police, Senior Citizens of Maury County; and Harrison County, West Virginia Historical and Genealogical Societies. Roy and his wife were involved in Senior Water Aerobics at the Columbia State Community College pool. After the death of his wife, Roy completed a lifeguard course and taught water aerobics classes at the YMCA. He was a faithful worker at The People's Table at First United Methodist Church where he was also a member and Sunday morning usher and greeter. Survivors include two sons, David M. (Mary F.) Pritchard of Forrest City, Arkansas, Joseph E. (Robbie) Pritchard of Arlington, Texas; five grandchildren, Bill Halford, A.S. Halford, Cynthia Edwards, Cindy Phillips, Mary Baldwin; and several great grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Leslie C. Pritchard, George S. Pritchard; one grandson, Robert (Sam) Davis; one great granddaughter, Jordan Halford; and a great grandson, Barrett A. Phillips. Pallbearers will be Stanley Halford, R.D. Ledford, Mack Holt, Jim Rodgers, Rick Bolton, J. Charles Honeycutt and David Greenfield.