Miami Co. Republic, July 14, 2003:

Estella Pritchard, 75, longtime Osawatomie resident, died Wednesday, July 9, 2003, at Life Care Center of Osawatomie.

She was born June 20, 1927 in Ottawa, the daughter of Francis Wayne and Amy Funk DeWald. She attended Liberty Grade School and Appanoose High School. She was proud of the fact that she had returned to school and completed her last year of high school, graduating from Osawatomie High School in l964.

She and James Harrison Pritchard were married Oct. 19, 1946 in Ottawa. They became the parents of three children. The family lived in Ottawa until moving to Osawatomie in 1959.

In addition to being a homemaker, she worked at Wicke Rexall Drug Store in Osawatomie and then as a recreational therapist from 1965 until 1982 at Osawatomie State Hospital. She then worked at Sinclair's Drug Store in Osawatomie until retiring.

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Osawatomie, where she served as an elder and as chairman of the First Christian Church bujilding committee. She was a dedicated member of the Osawatomie Lions Club, serving as secretary for many years. She was honored by being selected to become a Melvin Jones Fellow. She was a member of the Frontier Twirlers Square Dance Club of Osawatomie, and she and her husband served twice as co-presidents.

Preceding her in death were three sisters, Dorothy Patterson, Marie Haas and Margaret DeWald.

Survivors include her husband, James Pritchard of the home; two sons, James L. Pritchard of Paola and Robert W. Pritchard of of Norcross, Ga.; a daughter, Delia A. Pritchard of Osawatomie; a brother, Wayne DeWald of Osage City, Kan.; three sisters, Jackie Ozzman of Greensboro, N.C., Ann Hanson of Ottawa and Nora Hays of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; and three grandchildren.

Services were Saturday at Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. Burial was in Osawatomie Cemetery. Pallbearers were Francis Troutman, Adam Pritchard, Chris Pritchard, Alisha Pritchard, Josh Needham and Dick Booe. Honorary pallbearers were Larry Young, Raymond Waggoner, Dick Lantis, Bill Valentine, Phil Pritchard and Jim Hanson.

Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church Building Fund in Osawatomie.