Robert Bruce Pratt July 26, 1921 – August 21, 2010
Robert Bruce ‘Bob’ Pratt, son of Clark and Effie Pratt, was born July 26, 1921 at the family home in Lotts Creek township, Ringgold county Iowa, the sixth of 10 children. He grew to adulthood in Ringgold county, attending rural schools and Mount Ayr high school, graduating with the class of 1938. He served in World War II with the U.S. Army in western Europe for more than two years (taking part in the Battle of the bulge), being discharged in 1945.
January 30, 1946 he and Bonnie Richards were united in marriage. A daughter, Judy Eileen, and son, Ted Bruce, were born to this union. In 1947 they relocated to Corvallis, Oregon, where he joined his brothers, Paul and Donald, in rural electrification work. Robert was employed by Consumers Power for 39 years until his retirement in 1986.
Cancer claimed the life of his wife, Bonnie, in 1968. The following year he was married to Martha McCobb of Corvallis. They made their home there until declining health prompted their recent move to an assisted living facility, Sellwood Landing in Portland, Oregon, where he died August 21 at the age of 89.
Robert was a gentle man with a quiet, unassuming manner. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and sports and was a faithful and active member of the Corvallis First Baptist Church. His legacy will be his Christian commitment and his love of family. His burial was in Oak Lawn Memorial Park in Corvallis.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Martha; daughter, Judy (Alan) Christensen of Portland, Oregon; son, Ted (Ivy) Pratt of Salem, Oregon; three grandchildren; stepchildren and families; four sisters, Etta Mae (Don) Wilson, June (Raymond) Stephens, Helen Michelson, all of Des Moines, and Doris (Norm) Klejch of Mount Ayr, Iowa; brothers and sisters-in-law, Maxine Pratt of Portland, OR; Hap (Marilyn) Richards, Charles (Donna) Richards of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Ann (Bill) Sickels of Texas, Sue Sickels of Indianola, Iowa, Jean Richards of Eugene, Oregon, Connie (Bob) Jacobsen of North Carolina and Lila Overholtzer of Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Bonnie; four brothers, Homer Pratt, Glen Pratt, Paul Pratt and Donald Pratt; sister, Vivian Schlapia Blake, and brothers and sisters-in-law, Hugh Schlapia, Lester Michelson, Viola Pratt, Dorothy Pratt, Yvonne Pratt, Allen Richards, Bill Richards, Marian (Charles) Skinner, Jane (Floy) Hutt, and numerous other relatives and friends.
