Pruitt, T.F.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: PRUI.F003
• _FGRAVE: 241527270
• Funeral: 16 Jul 2022, Frank & Bright Funeral Home, Flora, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

Frank Joseph Pruitt, age 56, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Clay County, after a battle with diabetes and brain cancer.

He was born January 6, 1966, in Clay County, the son of Gene and Patricia (Welty) Pruitt. He was united in marriage to Judy Smith (Littlejohn), and they shared 25 years together and had two sons: Travis F. and Tanner D.

Known by his close friends as “Riverbank Frank”, he enjoyed being outdoors and being close to nature in the woods or near the Little Wabash River. Other hobbies included gardening, hunting, fishing, and rock hunting. Frank followed in his Grandpa Welty’s footsteps and was co-owner/fur buyer at Wabash Fur Company. He was a lifelong oilfield hand for numerous companies and had been employed by United Water Blasters in the 1980’s.

He is survived by his 2 sons: Travis Pruitt (Ash Lempkowski) of Aurora and Tanner Pruitt (Sandra Romero) of Xenia; siblings: Bill Pruitt of Flora, Mike Pruitt of West Terre Haute, Indiana, Debbie Pruitt of Olney, Ron (Carol) Pruitt of Kell, and Robert Pruitt of Waterloo; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins; and numerous friends. In addition to his family and friends he will also be sadly missed by his dogs that he loved with all his heart.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his grandparents: Arthur “Babe” and Bernice (Benefield) Pruitt and John and Ruby (Smith) Welty.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2022, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Interment will follow in Rusk Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to assist with final expenses and will be accepted through the funeral home, at Flora Banking Company, or on a Go Fund Me account set up by Sandra Romero Gonzalez.

Frank married Littlejohn, J.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: PRUI.C003
• _FGRAVE: 192466661
• Military Service: United States Army

Charles married Welty, Patricia Ellen. Patricia (daughter of Welty, John and Smith, Ruby Althea) was born on 9 Jun 1940 in Flora, Clay County, Illinois; died on 19 Dec 2000 in Clay County Hospital, Flora, Clay County, Illinois; was buried on 22 Dec 2000 in Rusk Cemetery, Flora, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: WELT.P002
• _FGRAVE: 21120807
• Funeral: 22 Dec 2000, Summers-Kistler Funeral Home, Flora, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

She was a member of the Flora Eagles Ladies Auxiliary.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: PRUI.A001
• _FGRAVE: 26984449
• Military Service: World War II, Private First Class, Company A, 712th Railway Operating Battalion, United States Army

Notes:

Military Service:
Entered active service as a draftee on January 26, 1944 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Selected for the Transportation Corps, completed basic training, and qualified in the Military Occupational Specialty of Railway Section Hand (MOS 199). Departed the Continental U.S. on October 22, 1944 bound for the European Theater of Operations. Assigned to and served with Company A, 712th Railway Operating Battalion, in the Ardennes and Rhineland Campaigns. Honorably discharged as a Private First Class on December 14, 1945 at the Separation Center, Camp Grant, Illinois. Earned The Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 bronze battle stars, and the WWII Victory Medal.

Source: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=2284032

(This information has been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website by Robert Medley Gatewood. It is entered here with his permission.)

Arthur married Benefield, Bernice. Bernice (daughter of Benefield, Charles 'Charlie' and Welch, Eva M.) was born on 15 Oct 1917; died in Mar 1977; was buried in Bunker Cemetery, Rinard, Wayne County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: BENE.B001
• _FGRAVE: 26984459

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: WELT.J003

John married Smith, Ruby Althea. Ruby was born on 15 Sep 1909 in Flora, Clay County, Illinois; died on 25 Jan 1978 in Salem, Marion County, Illinois; was buried in Rusk Cemetery, Flora, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: SMIT.R009
• _FGRAVE: 21121007

Notes:

Ruby Althea Welty, Rt 1, Flora, died at Salem Memorial Hospital today at 12:45 a.m. She was 68.

She was born Sept. 15, 1909 in Flora to Arthur and Nellie Smith. On Apr;il 11, 1936 in Salem, she married John Welty.

She is survived by her husband John of Flora, sons, Dr. John H Welty, TerreHaute, Ind., and Dr Stephen Welty, Salem; daughters, Mrs. Wayne (Jean) Owens, Clay City, Mrs. Patricia Pruitt, and Mrs Donald (Linda )Boyd all of Clay City, and Ruth Ann Welty, Flora: a brother Norman R. Smith, Flora: a sister, Mrs. Edgar (Winifred) Smith, Flora; and 13 grandchildren.

Services will be at the Cardascio Funeral Home, Flora, with visitation. Burial will be in Rusk Cemetery in rural Flora.

Taken from the Olney Daily Mail, Olney, IL, Jan, 1978.