David "Dave" Lee "Dave" Pridemore

David "Dave" Lee Pridemore, 83, passed away surrounded by his loving family at his residence in Franklin on July 10, 2025.

Dave was born on December 16, 1941 in Mitchell, Indiana to Jacob Ivis Pridemore and Elizabeth Marie (Edwards) Pridemore. He married Gretchen Gayle (Reynolds) Pridemore on July 14, 1968. She lovingly survives.

Other survivors include his daughters, Deanna Lee Tratensek (Dan), Jennifer Renee Payne (Joe), and Robin Lynn Rahn (Uwe); grandchildren, Jessica Dawn McAbee, Melissa Marie Tratensek, Kaelyn Renee Feyerabend, Ryan David Payne, Cole Andrew Feyerabend, Abigail Marie Payne; great-grandchildren, Logan William Connell, Carter Elizabeth Connell, Theodore "Teddy" Ophelia Tratensek Lowhorn, Wesley Cole Pettit; siblings, Marcia Jeanne Kruse and Alan Jay Pridemore; niece and nephews, Scott Jay Cooper, Erik Andrew Pridemore, Aaron Lee Pridemore, Jason Markus Pridemore, and Amber Nichole Pridemore.

He was preceded in passing by his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Pridemore; brother, Richard Howard Pridemore; and in-laws, Merrill and Ruth LeVern (Chastain) Reynolds.

Dave was a graduate of Mitchell High School, class of 1959. He went on to serve in the United States National Guard from 1959 until his honorable discharge in 1963.

Dave retired from AT&T Long Lines after many years of dedicated service. Post retirement he worked briefly for Indianapolis Electric and Johnson Controls. His last employment was with Reynolds Landscaping until he finally retired for good.

He was a member of the American Legion.

He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as being an avid gardener.

Dave had a mischievous spirit and wry sense of humor that his family and friends knew well. In recent months, when Dave was asked to recount some of the key moments from his life, his sincerity and humor were both evident in his answers.

"I like to say that I was conceived on the East Fork of the White River and was born in a red tar-paper home on top of the bluff. I grew up in one of the best places on Earth for children to be. It was a simple life, but it was secure and loving.

From 1959 to 1963, I served in the National Guard tank division, then knocked around doing construction until getting an application for AT&T Long Lines. I took my test in Scottsburg, my physical in Chicago, then went to work for AT&T in New Albany. Eventually, I transferred up to work the cables from Greenfield to the Ohio line until transferring to the Bell building, downtown Indianapolis in 1975. I wasn't certain I'd fit in with the "city slickers" who I'd work with, but WOW was I wrong! From the moment I began with AT&T, my life changed for the better; I ran into the best friends one could ever work with. We had a lot of fun, and I had great respect for all of them.

So to my family, my friends, my service, and my neighborhood, God is Great (and Life is Good)."

- Dave L. Pridemore

A celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton Street (U.S. 31) in Franklin. Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin where military honors will be conducted.