April 6, 1917 - Nov. 6, 2006

Ralph A. Pruitt, 89, of Lebanon, died Nov. 6, 2006, at his son's home in Prineville.

A funeral service was held Nov. 10 at Huston-Jost Funeral Home.

He was born April 6, 1917, in Portland, the son of Edward and Emma (Pike) Pruitt. He grew up in Eastern Oregon.

On Aug. 19, 1939, he married Claudine L. Lindsey in Vancouver, Wash. and they moved to Lebanon.

In Nov. 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy and served with the Seabees during World War II. He was honorably discharged in December 1945 and returned to the Lebanon-Sweet Home area.

He and his wife worked for the US Forest Service for several years, during which time they manned the Sand Mountain Lookout. He spent most of his career working as a carpenter. He retired in 1971.

Survivors are his daughters and sons-in-law Sandra and David Stevens of Camas, Wash., and Ronda and Dick Davis of Junction City; son and daughter-in-law Larry R. and Lorraine Pruitt of Prineville; 18 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

His wife Claudine died in 1999. His brothers Henry, Lee and Archie Pruitt also died before he did.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pioneer Memorial Hospice and sent in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home, 86 W. Grant St., Lebanon, OR 97355. On-line condolences for the family may be left at www.hustonjost.com.