Mead White Pritchett

Mead White Pritchett, 87, of 21301 Mead Road, Omaha, passed away from this life at 4:45 p.m., Thursday, December 4, 2008 at Fountain View Nursing Home in Eldorado, after a month long struggle with heart and kidney disease. He was a retired farmer and rural mail carrier for thirty-six years carrying the Omaha Routes 1 and 2. Mead was a sixty-five year member of the Omaha Masonic Lodge and a lifetime member of the American Legion. Mead was born on October 12, 1921 in the community of Adkin, one and a half miles west of Omaha, to Horace and Jessie (Draper) Pritchett. A life long resident of Gallatin county except while attending Southern Illinois (Normal) University for two years, and when he answered our country's call to join the army during World War Two. Mead served as staff sergeant in the 265th field artillery battery "B" battalion from October 26, 1942 to January 3, 1946, in the European theater of operation landing on Omaha Beach in France at midnight after the D-Day invasion; seeing battles and campaigns in Northern France, Ardennes and Central Europe. During his service time he earned three overseas service bars, one service stripe, American Campaign medal, Europea-African-Middle Eastern Theater ribbon with three bronze service battle stars, good conduct medal, and the World War Two Victory Medal. During his time in Europe, Mead met his future wife, Suzanne Dalbanne, daughter of Dr. Pierre and Mme. Elise Dalbanne. On September 19, 1946 they were married at the Methodist Church in Johnston City by Rev. Homer Young. She survives him. Mead and Suzanne had sixty-two years together and are the parents of three children; Mike and wife Charlotte of Omaha, Helen Pritchett of Harrisburg, Jack Pritchett of Omaha; four beautiful and much loved granddaughters, Heather Pritchett of Chihuahua City, Mexico, Rikki DeNeal and husband Jason of Harrisburg, Kylie and Samantha "Sami" Pritchett of Omaha; also, two great granddaughters, Hannah and Halli DeNeal whom Mead loved dearly. He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother Carl; a sister, Naomi; and a nephew, Joe Pritchett. Mead is also survived by great nephew, Bob and wife Claire Pritchett of Roseville and great niece Becky Boswell of Bloomington. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 6th at Vickery Funeral Chapel in Omaha with visitation from twelve noon to service time. Rev. Harold Hungate will officiate and masonic rites will be given. Burial will be in Palestine Two Cemetery near Omaha with military rites. In lieu of flowers please donate to General Baptist International- Chihuahua Ministries, 100 Stinson Drive Poplar Bluff, Mo. 63901. Internet condolences may be sent to www.vickeryfuneralchapel.com.