Mark O. Pruitt, Florissant, MO
https://www.mcdonaldrobertsfuneralservice.com/obituary/mark-pruitt
April 18, 1953 - April 9, 2023
Mark O. Pruitt, a longtime resident of Florissant, MO passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2023 at the age of 69 years. He was born on April 18, 1953 in Chicago, IL to the late Ralph O. and Marjorie A. Pruitt (nee Henry).
Mark attended grade school and jr. high in the Matteson School Dist.(Chicago south suburbs). He went on to attend Rich Central High School and graduated in 1971. While in high school, Mark participated in running track and also played baseball on summer leagues when he would be out in Kansas helping with the wheat harvests of his grandad and grandma's farm. He also was involved while attending Rich Central H.S., with music/band-playing the trombone.
Upon high school graduation, he attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 1977. He later completed a master's degree from Washington University-St. Louis. Mark was a fervent fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Fighting Illini for the rest of his life.
Mark landed his dream job with McDonnell Douglas/Boeing designing military aircraft for them for 33 years, retiring in 2011. During his career there he made significant contributions to the F-18 military fighter jet and C-17. He patented products still used today and accumulated many honors with the company.
After retirement, he remained active in the Commemorative Air Force-Missouri Wing. Some of his favorite activities were guiding visitors through tours of the museum, helping with their hangar dances at Smartt Field-St. Charles and working their booth during the Spirit of St. Louis Airport air shows.
Later in his life, Mark married his wife Fairel McFadden, and shared a close bond with his stepdaughters, and stepgrandsons who lovingly cared for him at the end of his life.
Mark was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Marjorie Pruitt.
He is survived by his wife Fairel and stepdaughters Christine Kiser and Julia McFadden, stepgrandsons Corey and Nicholas Kiser, siblings Dave Pruitt and Ann Jenkins (husband Gene), nieces Megan and Cori (husband-James), nephews Scott, Nicholas (wife-Jessica), Matthew (wife-Danielle), 12 great-nieces and nephews, many cousins, aunt and uncle Jim and Janice Skinner, and other relatives and friends.
Memorial donations in honor of Mark may be made to: Commemorative Air Force, P.O. Box 764769, Dallas, TX 75376.
*All donations will be applied to the local St. Charles, CAF MO Wing Group of which Mark was a member.
Online condolences can be made at Roberts Family Funeral Home at the following website: robertsfamilyfs.com
Graveside memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22 at the Saltville Cemetery south of Beloit. Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation.
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