Prentice A. Lanphere

Prentice Andrew Lanphere, 92, has gone to "the great duck blind in the sky" on Dec. 27, 2012.
Prent was born Sept. 24, 1920 at home in Westerly, R.I., the only child of Prentice Albert and Nancy Severn Ramsey Lanphere. Prent was also the direct descendent of George and Mary Lanfear, who settled in Westerly in 1669. Prent graduated from Westerly High School in 1938, attended the University of Rhode Island School of Pharmacy, from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1942.
Prent enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 2, 1943, and served as a pharmacist aboard the 503rd Medical Hospital Ship in World War II. He received several medals including: WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign, EAME Campaign and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medals, and was honorably discharged on March 23, 1946.
Upon returning from WWII, Prent opened a pharmacy in Westerly called Westerly Drug Company. He operated the store for a number of years and later worked as a pharmacist at Bannon's Drugs and Higgins Pharmacy in Pawcatuck, Conn. Prent returned to URI and changed his profession to teaching. He taught at Chariho Regional High School in Rhode Island and then at Ledyard Junior High School in Ledyard, Conn., until he retired.
Prent was the widower of Florence Dorothea Cook, S. Evelyn Titterington Levy and Marie R. Lattin. He is survived by his daughter Melissa E. Lanphere of Westerly, R.I., and was the step-father of Jane L. Hamel (and Richard) of Belchertown, Mass., and John "Jack" Levy (and Carol) of Columbia, Conn., both of whom predeceased him. He was a mentor and friend to Jean Lattin of Westerly, Nancy Lattin Davis (and Scott) of Annapolis, Md., and Jennifer Lattin Julier (and Sam) of Hamden, Conn.
Prent's greatest passions were all found in outdoor living. Prent was a founder in 1978 of the South Shore Chapter of R.I. Ducks Unlimited non-profit, helped organize several other R.I. chapters, and helped lead DU for many decades to raise thousands of dollars for wetland conservation across North America. Prent was also very well known for his waterfowl carvings, paintings and over the years was a commissioned artist.
Prent was an avid hunter and fisherman and told many stories of trips to North Dakota, Canada, Greenland, England and other European countries, and fulfilled his lifelong dream of traveling to Egypt. He could tell you of secret local spots that only he knew how to access and held near to his heart the people who shared such passions. He loved quahogging, "smelting the Pawcatuck," trout fishing, horseshoes, beekeeping, astronomy and many other activities.
He sang for many years with the Westerly Singers and a local barbershop quartet.
Prent is survived by his daughter, Melissa E. Lanphere; his grandchildren, Mark Hamel of Monson, Mass., Trish (Hamel) Kuehnrich of Haworth, N.J., Sean A. Hamel of Williamsville, N.Y., Kristin A. (Skaggs) Darling of Colorado Springs, Colo., Janel L. Lanphere of Flagstaff, Ariz., Elspeth Julier of Hamden, Conn., Hendry Julier of Hamden, Conn., and Sherry L. Levy of Columbia, Conn., who pre-deceased him; his great-grandchildren, Dustin, Joseph, Natalie, Rene Hamel of Monson, Mass., Abby, Kara, Jack, Dane Kuehnrich of Haworth, N.J., Seanan Hamel of Williamsville, N.Y., Sadie and Anthony Jeffery Peterson of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Tesslyn and Sheadyn Darling of Colorado Springs, Colo.
A special thanks to Arnold Lombardi and George Hager (fellow teachers) and Chris Hearn and Erick Taylor (fellow hunters) for their steadfast friendship, and to Caitlyn Sullivan and Michelle O'Brien, whose care allowed him to be at home in his later years.
As per Prent's request there will be no calling hours, funeral or burial services.

"If you thought of us
and wanted to share
a story of old or
shed a tear
we thank you from the
bottom of our hearts.
One thing you can do
in memory of Prent or
'Pop'
Is to go for a walk
and take a look
For grouse or geese
or ducks
And if they happen to
take to the sky
Notice their beauty
as they pass by
Then Grab Your Gun!"
- by Janel Lanphere