Gerald A. Prentice

GERALD ALBERT (GERRY) PRENTICE, age 95, passed away on Thursday, April 24 th at his home in Brush Prairie, Washington, from heart disease. Gerry was born June 6, 1929 in Seattle, Washington to parents Lawrence and Thelma Prentice. He had two siblings, Madelon and Deane, and graduated from Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor. He played football in high school with his best friend since elementary school, Bob Tachell, and they remained friends the rest of his life. He met his future wife, June VanGorder in high school, where they discovered they shared the same birthday, one year apart. They continued dating while he attended a technical college in Tacoma and she attended Washington State University in Pullman. They married on May 6, 1950. Their first four children were born in Tacoma where he worked as a line mechanic for Mueller-Harkins Buick, which later became Brus Buick.
In 1958 he was hired by Chevrolet Motor Division in Portland, Oregon. His career was distinguished by frequent promotions, which meant the family was transferred to numerous locations on the West Coast. Their fifth child was born in Portland, Oregon, shortly before his transfer to San Diego, California. Throughout his career with Chevrolet, he mentored many, teaching them life-long lessons they still talk about today, and he remained friends with most of them. He retired from Chevrolet as a top executive in Thousand Oaks, California. His co-workers and boss did not want him to leave, but he just asked "Where do I sign?" He considered himself very lucky to be able to retire at age 55. He and June embraced retirement by purchasing a motorhome and traveling with their children and grandchildren all over the country.
They eventually settled in Brush Prairie, where they continued to travel, help raise grandchildren, and spend lots of time with family. He continued his mentoring and teaching life-long lessons with his grandchildren, always with his unique wit and sense of humor, something they will carry with them the rest of their lives. From the time he was a teenager, he had an interest in antique cars, buying and selling several over the years. He attended the antique car swap meet at Portland Expo Center every April, and drove his 1986 black IROC Camaro to every local cruise-in he could. He loved talking with people wherever he went and never met a stranger. He would anonymously pick up the tab at a restaurant for anyone who looked like they needed a boost, most recently for a young couple with a new baby. He would purchase new bicycles from Walmart at Christmas time and deliver them to Toys for Tots. He would pay for the groceries of a struggling mom and baby in line in front of him at the grocery store. He had a generous soul and would love people to carry this generosity on in his place.
At the age of 87, Gerry learned through a DNA sample submission that his siblings were only his half- siblings, that he had a dad he'd never known about, and that he had additional nieces and nephews. He enjoyed meeting and getting to know his brand new family over the past few years.
Gerry was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, June, who passed away in 2015, and his son-in-law Dennis Petersen in 2016. He is survived by his 5 children: Becky Prentice (Dave Prevost), Debby Prentice (Roy Thornley), Jerry Prentice (Melinda), Jenny Petersen, and Rob Prentice (Janet); his 11 grandchildren: Jeremy Prentice, Nicole Kelley, Stephanie Prentice, Jordan Petersen, Stacie Hallowell, Kadee Geddes, Josh Petersen, Chad Prentice, Chris Prentice, Nicholas Thornley, and Justin Prentice; 14 great grandchildren; sister-in-law Auni Miller; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held for immediate family members only.