Richard Pryor

Family-Placed Obituary


PRYOR, Richard E. ("Dick") age 88, of Oakwood, died on March 22, 2005 at the Hospice of Dayton in the company of family. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Mary Pryor, M.D., his sons Richard and Lawrence, their wives, Elizabeth and Lisa, and three grandchildren, Richard, Grace and Arden Pryor, as well as his sister Anne Pryor Schantz, and two nephews and two nieces; he was predeceased by his parents and by his older brother, Russell Stimson Pryor. A lifelong resident of the Dayton area, Richard Pryor was born in 1916 to Russell and Marguerite Kauffman Pryor and was the descendant of several generations of Pryor's and Kauffman's prominent in Dayton and southern Ohio history. After graduating from Steele High School in 1934, Mr. Pryor attended Miami University, where he belonged to the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and made many life-long friends. Mr. Pryor graduated from Miami University in 1941. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Navy Air Corps, telling friends that he could see that war was coming. Upon being certified as a Naval Aviator, he transferred to the United States Marine Corps, became a Marine aviator, and served as a flight instructor during WW II. After the war, Mr. Pryor attended and graduated from Harvard Law School, then returned to Dayton where he began the practice of law. That practice was interrupted by the Korean War, in which he served as Squadron Commander of a Marine fighter/bomber squadron based in Korea, and during which time he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, an Air Medal with four Gold Stars, and a Purple Heart. After the Korean War, he again returned to Dayton and the practice of law. Ultimately, he practiced law for over 50 years, with more than 45 of those years as a founding partner in the local firm of Young, Pryor, Lynn & Jerardi. He also continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve and retired with the rank of Colonel. Mr. Pryor was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Oakwood for more than 40 years, a member of the Dayton Bicycle Club for nearly 50 years, and a member of the Dayton Country Club, the Dayton Bar Association, and the Harvard Club of Dayton. Although interment will be private, a memorial service for Mr. Pryor will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Saturday March 26, 2005 at 1:00 p.m., with the Rev. John Koepke presiding. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in memory of Mr. Pryor to the Dr. Mary D. and Mr. Richard E. Pryor Endowed Scholarship at Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, Ohio 45435. Arrangements in care of Routsong Funeral Home.