Guy Junior Prichard
October 29, 1922 ~ May 23, 2024
As Aviators do, Guy Junior Prichard, 101 years, 7 months “flew into the sunset” May 23, 2024, in Salina Kansas.
He was born, October 29, 1922, to Iva (Bennett) and Guy Jennings Prichard at home in rural Enterprise, KS. He married Evelyn (Allen) on Dec 22, 1946, making Enterprise, KS their lifetime home as they raised 4 children.
He rode a pony to grade school, farmed with his father using horses, graduated from Chapman High School, was 43-year employee at Ehrsam’s, starting in the foundry, moving to machinist, draftsman and Engineer, a WWII Veteran, started his business, Prichard Air Service. He loved his family, his small farm, hunting, fishing, swimming, bicycling and FLYING.
Intrigued with airplanes at an early age, he rode on his father’s lap with a Barn Stomer pilot at age 7, knowing that someday he would learn to fly himself. That he did! To support and share his love of flying he became a flight instructor and Prichard Air Service was born. He taught people to fly from his grass strip runaway and at surrounding towns, with Evelyn as his biggest supporter. Guy received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award for 50 years of Certified Flight Instruction. Flying was his passion. But kindness, loyalty, honesty, being a self-starter, doing a job right, maybe being a little onery, always ready to help were also his character traits. A humble man, caring husband, father and friend. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, NRA, Abilene Aviation group.
When asked the secret to his long and healthy life, he would say “Hard work and clean Livin’.”
He is loved and missed by his surviving children and their spouses, Janelle and Mike Budke, Kevin Prichard, Lenece Anderes and Praneet Prichard. His Grand and Great Grandchildren, Brent and Jamie Rider, Mylea, Ridge and River: Grant and Hannah Prichard and Cooper; Rachel Ricard, Mikaela, Madison and Cole Anderes, Chad Budke, Heather and Tyler Jones, Jett and Isla. Sister Joyce Mass and family.
He was preceded by wife Evelyn, son Lynn and brother Dean, parents Guy Jennings and Iva Prichard.
Cremation has been chosen with a private ceremony to be scheduled.
READ MORE: UPDATED: Heavy rain in north-central and northeast Kansas early this morning