Ralph E. Pritchard

Ralph Eugene Pritchard, 84, of Bucyrus died unexpectedly on Thursday, June 21, 2018 at Bucyrus Community Hospital after recent treatment for heart complications in Columbus.



He was born in North Robinson, Ohio on July 19, 1933 to the late Wallace and Virginia (Stinehelfer) Pritchard. He graduated from North Robinson High School, where he was known as Gene, in 1951 after lettering all four years in baseball and basketball. He was a member of the Galion American Junior Legion team and they were baseball state runners-up in 1949 and state champs in 1950.

On April 3, 1953, he married the former Shirley Craft and she survives along with daughter, Cathy (David) Schwemley of Bloomville and son, Randall (Tracey) Pritchard of Bucyrus; granddaughters, Elizabeth (Jeremy) Crall and Melissa Pritchard; grandsons, Chad (Shelly) Schwemley and Troy (Gwen) Schwemley; 10 great grandchildren, Brett, Brynn, Bria, Alexis, Mya, Mykle, Kymberleigh, Uriah, Elijah, and Eve.





He worked at the General Electric Lamp Plant from 1951-1970. He entered the insurance business in 1968 and started his own agency, Pritchard Insurance, the following year. The agency is now operated by his son.



Ralph was a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church, Moose Lodge 669, Ducks Unlimited, Treeing Walker Breeder & Fanciers Assoc., National Rifle Assoc., and Wildlife Legislative Fund of America. He was an avid coon hunter for his entire life and breeder of champion Treeing Walker Hounds for many years. He hunted in many states and really enjoyed watching baseball and basketball on tv and in person.



The Pritchard family will receive friends on Monday, June 25 from 4-7 pm at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus where his funeral will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 am with his friend and neighbor, Pastor Ray LaSalle officiating. Burial will follow in Biddle Cemetery.



Memorial donations may be made payable to the American Heart Association or Humane Society Serving Crawford County and given at the funeral home. Memories and photos can be shared on his Tribute Wall.