Elmer Lewis Pring

Elmer Lewis Pring, 93 of Middletown passed away on January 1, 2025. He was born February 8, 1931, on a farm near Sulphur Springs to the proud parents, Russell Pring and Velma (Pate) Pring.

He attended and graduated from Cadiz High School in 1949 in a class of 13 proud classmates. In 1951, he was selected by the U. S. Army and served 2 years during the Korean Conflict. While working at Delco Remy of Anderson, Indiana he was approved for an educational leave to attend Nashville Automotive and Diesel College in Nashville, Tennessee he graduated with honors and returned to Delco Remy upon which he completed an apprenticeship in Tool & Die Making. After 43 years he retired in 1993 thankful and grateful to all the people he worked with. Elmer was active in sports all his life, he lettered in baseball, basketball and track in high school. He was an avid hunter and loved outdoor sports, taking any chance he could to go fishing or hunting.

In his final years, he found himself more and more on a lawn mower. When he ran out of his own grass to mow, he mowed the neighbors and the neighbor beside that neighbor. He was not really a man of meditation, but there is something to be said that he appeared to be in a zen-state while riding and once he was done, he would already be planning for the next week. Just before his 93rd birthday he had a fall, broke his hip. Little did we know it would be the beginning of the end. At first, his recovery was excellent, his movement was well, or as well, as could be expected of a man his age. Spring came and it was a challenge to get him on the tractor, but once he was on it, it was like nothing had changed. Then things began to slow down. He was not quite as sharp, his work not quite as meticulous and he was seemingly unconcerned with his safety. We had joked for a long time that the day he can longer mow a lawn is the day he would be done. Unfortunately, we were not wrong. We will miss him deeply, but we know for a fact that the lawns in heaven will look excellent with Elmer working them. 

He is survived by his two wonderful sons, Michael and Richard both of which he shares his passion for hunting and fishing with.

Preceding him death are his parents, Russell and Velma; wife of 56 years, Donna Pring; brothers, Ralph and Arnold; niece, Diane Lowry; nephews, Steve Wells and Lowell Wells; sister, Evelyn Wells Addison.

Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at Ballard and Sons Funeral Home in Middletown with Paul Boeger officiating. Burial will follow in Mechanicsburg Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00 am until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Saint Jude Hospital at 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

You may express condolences or share a memory of Elmer at www.ballardandsons.com