A Service of Worship & Celebration of Life for 82 year old James Ronald “Ronnie” Pritchard of Brentwood, TN will be Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN
Visitation:
on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 10:30 AM at Brentwood Baptist Church
Goodwin Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
Survivors include:
Survivors:
Wife of 40 years – Margaret Ann Reynolds Pritchard, Brentwood, TN
Daughter – Lori Webb, Winchester, TN
Daughter – Jamie Protich (Jim), Nashville, TN
Three grandchildren, Chelsea Fancher (Gabriel), Elijah Protich, Alexander Protich
Seven great-grandchildren
Ronnie Pritchard passed away on:
4:50 AM, Friday, March 1, 2024 at NHC Place at Cool Springs in Franklin, TN
James Ronald (Ronnie) Pritchard, 82, of Brentwood, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2024, at NHC Place, Franklin, Tennessee, after a lengthy illness.
Ronnie was the son of the late Gurtha Griggs Pritchard and Andrew Thomas Pritchard. His younger years were spent at his family home in Huntingdon, Tennessee, where he attended city schools and later worked for his father’s trucking company as a young adult. He excelled as an outstanding football player, drummer, outdoorsman, and radio disc jockey. He graduated from Huntingdon High School and was inducted into the United States Army.
Ronnie was a proud Vietnam Era veteran where he served a cause greater than self. He served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman at Arlington Hall in Arlington, Virginia, and in the Berlin Brigade in Berlin, Germany.
Upon his honorable discharge, he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Bethel College and completed his Master of Education from Memphis State University.
Ronnie never shied from hard work. He was assistant principal at Camden Junior High School. Later, he was athletic director, head football coach, boys and girls basketball coach, and economics and history teacher at Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School in Bruceton, Tennessee.
For ten years he was highly revered by his students at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, where he served as chairman of the History Department. His greatest joy came from his tenure as football coach. He was also swimming coach, transportation director, day camp director, and TSSAA basketball referee. Throughout his life, his students and players respectfully called him “Coach”.
Ronnie embarked on a new career at Herbert Marine Terminal in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing. As a result of his success, he became Vice President of Sales for MidStream Transfer in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ronnie held a unique and rewarding career as Sales and Operations Manager at Ingram Barge Company and Ingram Materials Company in Nashville, Tennessee. He increased sand and gravel sales along the Tennessee River into Alabama, Georgia, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. He opened new aggregate yards in Florence, Decatur, and Huntsville, Alabama.
He excelled in a vibrant industry where he learned every facet of the operation in numerous states. He valued the many sand yard employees, crews, and towboat pilots with whom he was on a first name basis. He never lost the special connections he developed through the years. His handshake was the only contract needed with loyal customers. He lived the American values of truth, honesty, dependability, respect, and honor every day with everyone.
Ronnie completed his professional career as founder and owner of RPC Consultants – specializing in aggregates, terminals, and transportation.
He was a distinguished board member of the Waterway Development Council and the Tennessee River Valley Association. He served in several professional organizations including the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Council, Tennessee Road Builders, National Sand and Gravel Association, National Waterways Council, Nashville Propeller Club, Green Hills Exchange Club, Toastmasters International, Nashville Traffic Club, Nashville Sales and Marketing Institute, and Construction Specification Institute.
His personal affiliations included the Vanderbilt Commodore Club for 40 years, Charter Club member of the Tennessee Titans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ducks Unlimited, TWRA Lifetime Sportsman, Boys and Girls Club, and the Cadiz Rotary Century Club.
Early in life he discovered a special appreciation of the outdoors and animals as well as the sport and fascination of the river. Throughout life, he was at peace on the river – fishing, waterskiing, duck hunting, working with his faithful Labrador, fun family outings, creating the bonds of friendship, and simply cruising in serenity. He loved every river from the mighty Mississippi to the tiny Little River in Kentucky. The river had power and vitality. It was a thousand colors and it told a different story every day. The river was both his friend and his profession.
As an avid sportsman, he enjoyed lifelong passions of hunting and fishing. He also welcomed the challenge of golf to support numerous multi-state charities. One of his greatest pleasures was hosting customers on deep sea fishing excursions to the Gulf. In addition to Vanderbilt basketball, football, baseball, Titans and SEC sports, he and Margaret Ann created special memories as hosts of the ultimate Vanderbilt and Titans tailgate parties for over 20 years.
Ronnie’s retirement years were spent at his Brentwood home, traveling, cruising the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and North and Central America, and spending time at his home on Lake Barkley, Kentucky. With Margaret Ann by his side, he spent many happy years boating, fishing, and enjoying the gorgeous sunsets that never ceased to amaze.
Ronnie was a faithful member of the Brentwood Baptist Church and the Once Delivered Life Group.
Ronnie is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Margaret Ann Reynolds Pritchard; his daughters, Lori Webb, Winchester, TN, and Jamie (Jim) Protich, Nashville, TN; granddaughter, Chelsea Fancher (Gabriel), and grandsons, Elijah and Alexander Protich; seven great-grandchildren; and a wide community of loving friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Dorothy Sue Looney, Ruth Baker, Doris Ward, and Betty Belew; and his brother, Dewey Pritchard.
Ronnie had a deep and abiding faith, a charismatic smile, a rich voice, the care of a Southern gentleman, and a largeness of spirit. He had a life well lived. Our country has history books filled with stories of men of honor and integrity. Ronnie carried on their tradition. He will be missed, but not forgotten.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate the life of Ronnie Pritchard on Thursday, March 7, at Brentwood Baptist Church, 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, Tennessee, with visitation in the Atrium beginning at 10:30 A.M, followed by a Service of Worship and Celebration of Life at 12:00 P.M. in Baskin Chapel. Interment with military honors will be held on Friday, March 8, 12:00 P.M., at East End Cemetery, Main Street, Cadiz, Kentucky.
Memorials may be made to Brentwood Baptist Church, 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN 37027; Vanderbilt University National Commodore Club at www.nationalcommodoreclub.com; or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at www.alzfdn.org/donate/
