- Date Of Birth: January 14, 1925
- Date Of Death: May 20, 2015
- State: Indiana
William R. “Bill” Pratt, 90, of Nappanee, was born Jan. 14, 1925, in Emporia, Kan., to the late Simon “Si” and Ruth (Mataney) Pratt.
He later married Betty Parker in Kansas City, Kan., on March 21, 1951. She passed away in Elkhart in 2014.
Surviving are his daughter, Lisa (James) Mast of Nappanee; son Tim Pratt of Middlebury; grandchildren Nicole Mast of Nappanee, Danielle and Cameron Pratt, both of Middlebury, and Adam Moore of Middlebury; great-grandchildren Katie and Max Malate, both of Chicago; and his caretakers, Tammy Blanton and John Creech, both of Nappanee, to whom the family acknowledges for Bill’s comfort in his final days.
Bill worked for Ford Motor Co. for many years and then for Coachman RV and Vans as an operations manager after moving to this area.
He enjoyed spending time in his yard and doing bottle and glass cutting in his spare time. He was also an avid Cleveland Browns, Chicago Cubs, and Notre Dame fan. He enjoyed studying history and liked to watch documentaries and historical programs including all types of World War II movies.
He served as a radioman in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Honolulu (CL 48), a Brooklyn-class light cruiser that won eight battle stars during operations in the South Pacific, including action in Bougainville, the Mariana Islands, Palau, Peleliu, Leyte, Guam, Saipan, and Kolombangara, where she was heavily damaged by an enemy torpedo.
