January 4, 1923 - June 21, 2007
William Pritchow was born on January 4, 1923, in Chicago, Ill. At the age of 3 he and his mother moved to the west coast, starting in Eureka California and eventually ending up in the Seattle area in 1937. While living in Seattle, Bill attended Cleveland High School. Then in 1939 the family moved once again, this time to the Burien area. Bill transferred to Highline High School were he attended several years in anticipation of completing his senior year. However, in 1942, with just three months until graduation, Bill left school to take a job working in the Puget Sound Shipyards making new ships for the war.
Upon moving to the Burien area Bill had the good fortune of living across the street from the Pritchard family where he met his wife to be, Hazel Jane Pritchard. They were married in Allentown on June 6, 1942, by a Justice of the Peace and shortly after Bill was drafted into the army. Bill was inducted at Fort Lewis on February 20, 1943, just after the birth of their first child. He served in the United States Army during World War II and landed on Utah Beach D-Day +2 hours, as a member of the 33rd Chemical Company. Bill received an early discharge in September 1945, based on having enough points accumulated from being in four of five major battles in the European Theatre. Once home he received the Croix De Gerre Medal of Honor for helping save France from Nazi invasion.
Upon returning home from the war, Bill took a job with Diamond Parking in Seattle, where he remained employed for 18 years. After leaving Diamond Parking he went to work for the United States Post Office and then the Washington State Liquor Board, both of which he retired from consecutively. Bill and Hazel lived in Burien from 1939 to 1979 and had three children. After 40 years living in the Burien area they moved to Renton, eventually ending up in Puyallup, where Bill lived the remainder of his life in the company of is devoted wife, with whom he recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Bill enjoyed old classic cars and playing cards on his computer and with friends. But most of all time spent with his family playing dominoes, socializing at family get-togethers and teasing the grandkids.
He is preceded in death by his mother Evelyn Pritchow and son-in-law Jim Kaechele.
Bill is survived by his wife, Hazel Pritchow, and their three children, Jane and her husband Robert Laughlin, Carol Cooper-Kaechele, and Dan Pritchow and his wife Jeannette Pritchow. He also has nine grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grand children.
"Pa," as he is lovingly called, passed away on June 21, 2007, at the age of 84. He was a man of few words, honorable, and steadfast. He is described by his family and friends as a "class act" and will always be remembered as a "gentle" man. William Pritchow didn't do anything that would be considered outstanding by worldly measure, but simply everything about him was "outstanding."
We can only surmise that when Pa was created God decided to give him exemplary character that of a man who would be a witness to his children and grandchildren, so that in an age of strife and turmoil Pa would stand as a man found to be above reproach.
