Lowell Pritchard

It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the death of our father, Lowell Pritchard (87).  Lowell slipped peacefully from this life on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at home with family, and he has now joined his wife and many other family members in the presence of the Lord. 

Lowell Pritchard was born on January 27, 1935, in Plainfield Township, Pennsylvania to Francis and Hattie Mae Pritchard. A graduate of Pen Argyl High School in Pennsylvania, Lowell joined the US Navy in 1953, was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1960 at the age of 25 and retired from active duty in 1974 as a Master Chief Petty Officer. While in the Navy he was stationed in Memphis, Pensacola, Newfoundland, Iceland, Norfolk, Lakehurst and Jacksonville and served on the USS Intrepid and USS Independence. 

He was married to the former Molly Caroline Whiddon from September 27, 1964, until her passing in 2005. After Lowell left the Navy, he and his wife started and ran the Orange Park antique store Molly’s Attic, and Lowell did furniture repair and refinishing. Lowell earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of North Florida (1983) and eventually owned his own income tax preparation business (TaxSmith).  Lowell was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed trapping, hunting, fishing, kayaking, and hiking from his childhood to his old age. He passed his love of the outdoors to his children and grandchildren.

Lowell is predeceased by his brothers, Clark D. Pritchard and Wynfield Pritchard.

Lowell is survived by his son, Lowell “Rusty” Pritchard Jr. and his wife, Joanna of Atlanta, GA, and his daughter, Molly Karen Pritchard of Pensacola, FL, with whom he lived for the last seven years.  Lowell also has three grandchildren through his son Rusty: Angus John Lowell Pritchard, Ewan Macdonald Pritchard and Beatrice Clare Pritchard. 

Lowell is currently in the care of Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home in Orange Park, FL.  A graveside service to celebrate Lowell’s life will be held Saturday, November 12 at 12:00 pm at Magnolia Cemetery, Orange Park, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that gifts be made in memory of Lowell to the Fisher House Foundation (fisherhouse.org), which builds homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital.