Francis "Frank" Lee Pruette
May 4, 1939 - September 21, 2022 (Age 83)
CATAWBA – On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, Frank Lee Pruette was welcomed into his eternal home, surrounded by his family, at his home in Catawba, SC.
The funeral service will be held at 11:30am on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at Harvest Ministries Church of God of Prophesy with Rev. Gary Adkins officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park on Cherry Road. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 9:30 – 11:15am.
Frank was a gentle, kind, and humble man that loved God and his family. His other loves included baseball and birds. He was a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs from 1958-1960, earning the nickname “Big Mama”. He continued to play on several baseball and softball leagues throughout all his adult life until his 70s. He raised a variety of birds, caring for hundreds of them on a daily basis at his home, and was commonly known as “Frank the Bird Man.”
Frank was born on May 4, 1939, to William Leonard Pruette and Grace McSwain Pruette McClain, who preceded him in death. He grew up in Sharon, SC with one brother, Cecil and one sister, Sandra, who are both surviving siblings. He retired from Bowater in 2002. He was a member of Harvest Ministries Church of God of Prophesy in Rock Hill.
Frank was a true man of God, whose faith and devotion to God impacted the lives he encountered, but most of all his family. He and his wife, Rita Johnston Pruette were married 62 years. He genuinely loved her and taught us the true meaning of unconditional love.
The memory of our dear father, grandfather, and great-grandfather will be cherished and kept alive by his beloved children: son, Bill Pruette (Robin) of Columbia; daughter, Carol Newman (Charlie) of Rock Hill; son, Randall Pruette (Lisa) of Richburg; son, Dr. David Pruette of Dover, NH. He was blessed to be the grandfather of eight precious grandchildren: Cameron Pruette, Nathan Pruette, Dr. Katie Newman Chambers (Cory), Marissa Newman Hyatt (Jerry), Carley Newman Kohler (Ben), Ben Pruette, Josh Pruette, and Becky Pruette. He was also the great-grandfather to Landon Hyatt, Andrew Hyatt and Annabelle Chambers. He is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Jamie Hope Pruette, and great-grandson, Briggs Ellis Chambers.
Memorials may be made in Mr. Pruette’s name to Harvest Ministries Church of God of Prophesy, 1211 Anderson Rd. S., Rock Hill, SC 29730.
