Ted R. Pritchard a resident of Concrete since 1941 passed away Saturday, May 24, 2003 at the Life Care Center of Skagit Valley in Sedro-Woolley at the age of 79 years. He was born March 9, 1924 in Norwalk, Iowa the son of Charles E. and Jennie R. Kalenberg Pritchard. During WWII, Ted served in the US Navy in the Pacific from 1943 to 1946. He was married to Carrie Aldrich in 1948 and their marriage ended in divorce in 1957. He was married to Retha Deitz on October 24, 1958 in Hamilton and she preceded him in death in January of 2000. Ted worked as a logger, in shake mills and for many years worked at the cement plant in Concrete. He enjoyed writing poetry, music, hunting and fishing, and sprint car racing watching his three grandsons race at Skagit Speedway. He was very creative and could make anything out of wood. Ted was a member of the Birdsview Fire Department for 27 years, Birdsview Grange, Concrete Senior Center, and he attended the Wildwood Chapel. He is survived by his 3 sons and daughters in law James Hobert and Debbie Deitz of Sedro-Woolley, Fred and Sara Pritchard and Ted and Maureen Pritchard all of Birdsview. 4 daughters and sons in law Shirley and Grady Claybo and Brenda and Bud Ashe all of Birdsview, Judy and Steve Hazel of Bellingham, and Virgie and Paul Eldridge of Van Horn. 26 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, and numerous foster children. He was preceded in death by his son George ‘Butch’ Christensen and a brother LeRoy Pritchard.
Funeral Services will be Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 2:00PM at Lemley Chapel with Pastor Jim Larson of the Wildwood Chapel officiating. Interment will follow at the Hamilton Cemetery with Military Honors provided by George Baldridge Post #43 American Legion. A reception will follow the services at the Birdsview Grange. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 28, 2003 from 7PM to 8PM at Lemley Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Birdsview Fire Department c/o Mike W. Donnelly 7878 Wilde Rd Concrete, WA 98237, Concrete Senior Center PO Box 787 Concrete, WA 98237 or the Wildwood Chapel c/o Pastor Jim Larson PO box 758 Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. You are invited to share your thoughts and memories of Ted by signing our online guest book at www.lemleychapel.com.