Lieutenant George Henry Pritchett Jr. ‘51

George Henry Pritchett Jr. was born on 23 August 1927 in Perry AR to George and Alta Mae Pritchett.  In 1937 the family moved to Anthony TX where he was raised and attended high school.  In 1946 he was selected for induction in the US Army and served 13 months before enrolling at NMAMC.  Lt Pritchett graduated in 1951 and was commissioned into the US Army.  Following graduation he married Catherine Lipps who was also from Anthony.  He was assigned to Fort Benning Georgia for training.  Following training he was next assigned to Camp Roberts CA for attachment to the 7th Infantry Division.  He and his wife spent Christmas with their families in Anthony TX and then departed on Monday December 31, 1951 by car to his next duty assignment in California.  On Friday, January 4, 1952 they checked into a small motel in Paso Robles CA.  They set the alarm clock for 6:00 a.m.  The following day, January 5, 1952 the motel staff found them both dead in their bed having been asphyxiated from a gas heater in the room.  Lt. and Mrs. George H. Pritchett Jr. were brought back home and on January 11, 1952, after a double service,  were buried side by side in the Anthony Cemetery. 

Lt George H Pritchett was 24 years of age and his wife, Catherine Pritchett was 21 years of age at the time of their death while he was in service to his nation.