Sunday, September 20, 2020
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CHARLES LEE PRITCHARD was my little brother. Growing up, being the youngest two of the four, we were inseparable. If he went hunting with the elder brothers, I went as well. As we aged, we remained close especially during High School. When our mother was killed by a drunk driver, both Charles and I became extremely angry. That was the point we helped one another to get through each day until we graduated. We went our separate ways, and time passed until we reconnected. We spoke weekly about our pass and the future. When he went through a difficult time after his stroke, he came down and spent time with Billy and me. We spent many hours talking and enjoying each other’s company. When we took him back home, Billy told Charles, you will always have a place to live all long as we are alive. To this date, Charles’ room is set up for him when he was ready, all decorated in Cats/Kitten theme.
For those of you who did not know Charles well, he was a fanatic cat lover. Charles and I found our first pet at the age of 4 and 5, a stray cat in Japan. We took it home, hid it in our house for a week before our parents discovered its existence. Our parents allow the cat to stay, having her for a few years before returning to the States, where the cat died on board the boat. From that point on, Charles and I had cats, which became one of our likes together. The other was mowing our yards. We started that obsession when we were in 4th and 5th grades, pushing a rotor blade style push mower in Virginia. He was and will remain my Baby Brother.
Charles was easy going, a good-hearted person who would give you his help if ever needed, never expecting anything in return. When Billy and I went to Georgia to pick up his broken down “love of his life Jeep”, he was so appreciative having the help. When the cost exceeded his budget, his family all kicked in to cover the extras to get his Jeep running safely. The day Billy and I, Bobby and Brenda delivered the Jeep back to him, all decked out in “Army Strong” that moment will forever be embedded in our brains. That first look of seeing his pride and joy back was priceless.
Charles will be terribly missed by Billy and myself, Bobby and Brenda, Greg and Lupe, Jimmy and Robyn, and his wife Brenda. However, knowing that Charles will be reunited with our Mother, the one person he LOVED more than his own life, will help us get through the pain of loosing him.
Until we meet again Charles, your favorite sister always.
