Joseph Lucian Pritchett

A Memorial service and Celebration of Life, will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, March 2, 2007 at Asbury United Methodist Church for Joseph Lucian Pritchett, 84, who died peacefully on Monday, February 26, 2007 at Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center in Houston, TX. He was born in Nevada, MO August 10, 1922 to Frank L. Pritchett and Dorothea Thomas Pritchett. He spent his early years in Olmito, TX where he learned to fish and hunt with his pony named Shorty. He served in WWII as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Ipswich, England. He was a navigator on B 17 Flying Fortress. He flew over 30 missions over Germany. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters. He flew lead navigator of the 447 Bomber Group in the first bombing of Berlin. After leaving the US Army Air Corps, he returned to the University of Texas at Austin, where he received his BA degree with honors in Geology in 1946. He moved to Lafayette in 1951 as a district geologist for Texas Gulf Producing Company. He spent time in Ben Gazi, Libya as an exploration geologist. He was a member of Asbury Methodist Church and the Challenger's Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Lafayette Geological Society, Society of Independent Petroleum Earth Scientists and AAPC. He was a charter member of OakBourne Country Club and the Lafayette Petroleum Club. He was an avid golfer and made a hole in one twice, fifteen years apart on the same hole. He owned a camp at Cypremort Point where he loved to fish and be with his family. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Janet Black Pritchett; three sons, Joseph Lucian Pritchett, III and wife, Carol, Christopher Frank Pritchett and wife, Sheila, and Gregory Earl Pritchett and wife, Debra; one granddaughter, Meghan Ashley Pritchett; four grandsons, William Christopher Pritchett and wife, Anita, Benjamin Gregory Pritchett, Paul Matthew Pritchett, Joseph Lucian Pritchett, IV; one great-grandson, Lucian William Pritchett. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Jane Mason Pritchett. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Pritchett's name to the charity of your choice or to United Asbury Methodist Church, Live Oak Blvd., Lafayette, La. Personal condolences can be sent to the Pritchett family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Joseph Lucian Pritchett

August 10, 1922 - February 26, 2007