09

There's more sad, although expected, news this late night. Jeanie Moore Prichard, mother of Reuben Prichard and mother-in-law of our own dear Sepi Dinwiddie Prichard ('58) of NC, passed away at 10:50 PM on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 in McLean, VA at the age of 81.

From Sepi Dinwiddie Prichard ('58) of NC - 09/22/07 - "We made it just in time":

Carol and NNHS Family....

It was a long and tense drive on Wednesday, September 19th to McLean, Va. Thank you for your prayers that led us through traffic that was amazingly light for that time of day. We didn't leave Raleigh until 4:10 p.m. and our prayers were that God would grant us one last time to be with Reuben's Mom before she left this earth forever. We arrived at Arleigh Burke Pavilion at 9:10 p.m. and were in her room by 9:15. Her special duty nurse Jen, a family friend, gave us a quick update on her condition which was not good, but at least she was still breathing, labored and shallow, but breathing. That was two prayers answered. Safe trip, and she was still alive. We talked to her, kissed her, brushed the hair away from her forehead and took turns holding her hand. The most wonderful thing that we could tell her, other than how much we loved her, was that hours earlier her first grandchild, Logan, had delivered her first great-granddaughter, Abigail Louise, a curly headed blond cherub who weighed 6 lbs., 5 oz. We believe she understood us, because she ever so slightly opened her left eye only to close it the next second. I cannot tell you how much she wanted to be on this earth when this child was born. Before she became so terribly ill she was so excited about her "first great-grandchild". Another prayer answered.

Reuben and I decided we would stay all night if we had to, and so we settled in with Jen, who made us comfortable and was a terrific conversationalist. She loved Jeanie like a mother and had known her from church since the age of 17. Time drifted slowly,,, and as I held her hand I detected subtle changes, her breathing, watching the pulse in her neck, which for some strange reason I found fascinating. I don't know why, but I could not take my eyes away from that sign of life. Suddenly her pulse quickened for about thirty seconds and then slowed little by little until it disappeared, I grabbed Reuben's arm and pulled him to her side...

"Kiss your Mother good bye," and his lips gently touched her forehead and again he quietly told her he loved her. I took my turn for one last kiss and then Jen passed away. She left like the lady she was, silently and holding the hand of Jesus and wrapped in the Glory of God's Grace. Thank you, Jesus.... It was exactly 10:50 p.m. Not a minute too soon or a second too late, but just in God's time.

Thank you again for your prayers....they have been answered !

Sepi and Reuben Prichard

WOW. That is really quite awesome - in the strictest sense of the word. Thank you for sharing that with us, Sepi.

From Sepi Dinwiddie Prichard ('58) of NC - 09/22/07 - "Jeanie Moore Prichard":

Our deepest sympathies are extended once more to Reuben and Sepi and their entire family.

Hi Carol,

Thank you for your fine work on ALL of the Memorials you add to our NNHS Newsletter. Take a rest, you deserve a break. Reuben and I Thank You so very much for including his Mother. You did a wonderful job !

Sepi and Reuben Prichard

From Neil Armstrong (Blume HS, OR - '47) of OH to

Captain Reuben Parker Prichard, USN (Ret) (USNA - Class of 1948A) - 10/02/07 - "RE: Jeanie Moore Prichard":

Dear Rube,

Sincere thanks for notifying me of the loss of your 6 decade partner in life.

Clearly a great lady who will be well remembered.

I send my condolences and my very best wishes.

Sincerely,

Neil Armstrong

From Captain David A. Spriggs, USNR (Ret.) ('64; USNA - Class of 1969) of VA - 10/03/07:

Y'all take good care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!

- Will L. Thompson, 1880

1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

* Refrain:
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

4. Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

		On Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at Arleigh Burke Pavilion in McLean, VA., Jeanie Moore Prichard, beloved wife of Reuben Parker Prichard died. She is survived by three daughters, two sons, six grandchildren, one great granddaughter and a host of other relatives and friends. Family will receive friends and relatives Tuesday, September 25 at 11:00 am at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to Lewinsville Presbyterian Church Foundation. LIFE HISTORY OF JEANIE MOORE PRICHARD Jeanie Moore was born in Villisca, Iowa on May 24, 1926, to Collis and Gladys Moore. Collis served as Postmaster for the town of Villisca and ran a family farm. When Jeanie was three years old, her birth mother passed away and Collis married Ruby Wissler, who raised Jeanie and her sisters. Jeanie was active in the drama club at high school. Upon graduation, she attended college in Omaha and worked for the Omaha District Attorney.
Jeanie


Responding to the 1945 patriotic call to duty, Jeanie moved to Washington DC and worked for the Navy Department Bureau of Yards and Docks. Six months later, she obtained a secretarial position on the Senatorial War Investigative Committee. One year later, she was promoted to Chief Secretary of the committee, the first non-college graduate to hold this position. As a volunteer for wounded WWII Veterans, Jeanie attended a party hosted by Evelyn Walsh McLean and accepted the invitation to wear the famous Hope Diamond. She met her future husband, Reuben Parker Prichard, on a blind date at the U.S. Naval Academy. Two years later, Jeanie married Reuben on Thanksgiving Day, November 27th, 1947, in the Naval Academy Chapel. Moving to Norfolk, Virginia in 1948, Jeanie began a 60-year adventure as a Navy wife and mother. Jeanie raised five children and successfully managed the family moves to many ports of call, including Pensacola, FL, Corpus Christi, TX, two stints in San Diego, CA, Monterey CA, Princeton NJ, Virginia Beach, VA, Bethesda, MD, Beeville TX, and two stints in Patuxent River, MD. Jeanie and Reuben settled in McLean VA in 1970, when Reuben retired from the Navy. After retiring from the Department of Energy, Reuben started a consulting business, RPX, Inc. and Jeanie served as the President, Chief Secretary and Bookkeeper. This position afforded many opportunities for travel around the country and the world. Jeanie served as church secretary and elder at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, VA. She also served on the Board of Directors that created and ran the Lewinsville retirement residences. Jeanie is survived by two sisters, Mary Lissandrello (Gene) of Oneonta, NY and Linda Moore of Villisca, IA; her husband Reuben Prichard; her children, Paige Kennedy (Charles) of Loganville, NS , Polly Lehtonen (Alfred) of Columbia, MD, Reuben Prichard, III (Sepi D.) of Raleigh, NC, Priscilla Merrill (Steven D.) of Northwood, NH, and Richard Prichard; six grand children, Logan (Leo), Chloe, Liana, Benjamin, Matthew and Mark, two step grandchildren, Kristal and Nicholas and a host of other relatives and friends. Jeanie's first great grandchild, Abigail Louise Unglaub, the daughter of Jeanie's first grandchild, Logan and husband Leo of Montreal, Canada, entered this world a few hours prior to her great grandmother leaving it.

		Captain Reuben Parker Prichard, USN (Ret) is a member of the Class of 1948A, so designated because its members graduated on 6 June 1947. The remaining members, the Class of 1948B, graduated on 4 June 1948. Given that this class entered prior to the conclusion of World War II, I suspect that it was affected by the accelerated graduations required as a result of the war. I explain all this, because I found it odd that a marriage in the Chapel would take place in November 1947, especially for a member of the Class of 1948. I knew that Classes were split; I just couldn't remember if 1948 was one of them. Unfortunately, I do not have a 1948 Lucky Bag, but I do have a 1947. That one has his photo as a Midshipman Second Class (Junior, to you landlubbers).