Harbor resident Paul David Prichard was born in Hoquiam, Washington, on Nov. 21, 1932, and died peacefully and surrounded by family on Aug. 20, 2021. He led a full life, marked by service to others.
He married the late Carolyn Ann Dick on Jan. 1, 1955, and they lived in Renton, Washington until Paul graduated from the University of Washington in 1956; at the time, the youngest graduate of the School of Dentistry. He remained a proud Husky throughout his life.
Nellis Air Force Base was the couple’s home through the birth of their daughter Kathryn. The young family moved back to the Harbor in 1958 and lived in their Hoquiam home for the next 62 years. Once in Hoquiam, daughter Janet grew the family to four. Paul practiced dentistry from his Aberdeen office until his retirement in 2005.
Paul had many passions and hobbies. He was a 20-year member of the Hoquiam Lions Club and a lifetime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, where he was a trumpet player in the Elks National Band. He played in the Grays Harbor Symphony and sang tenor for the Grays Harbor Community Choir, and the Hoquiam Presbyterian and Aberdeen Baptist churches.
He was an eight-year reserve deputy for the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s office, and then developed and led the Hoquiam Police Department Reserves until his retirement as Captain after 31 years. He also served as Grays Harbor Deputy Coroner for 20 years, leading the dental identification program and computerizing the office.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Carolyn; his parents Haydn and Miriam; his brothers Glenn and Dewitt, and sister June Mason (Morton). He is survived by his daughters Kathryn Miller (William) of Tijeras, New Mexico, and Janet Prichard (Dale Gluck) of Berwyn, Pennsylania, grandchildren: Paul Miller, Ann Liu (Aquila) and Zoe Gluck (Schuyler Jones); other relatives and many friends.
He will join Carolyn at Tahoma National Cemetery, together forever.
Remembrances in Paul’s honor can be made to the Pat Wilhelms Music Scholarship fund at Grays Harbor College (https://www.ghc.edu/foundation/donors). Memorial service details will be announced at a later date.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
