Roy L. Pruett

Mr. Pruett was born on November 26, 1924 in Union City, TN. He was raised in western Kentucky and Tennessee, and graduated from Hickman County High School, in Clinton, KY in 1941. He went on to Murray State College and received his B.S. in 1944. After an immediate two-year tour of duty in the U.S. Navy during WWII, he received his Master’s and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Tennessee in 1948 and 1951, respectively.

Mr. Pruett began his career in chemical research with the Union Carbide Corporation in Oak Ridge, TN. He continued to work for the company for 31 years, spending most of that time in the Chemicals and Plastics Division in South Charleston, WV. Upon his retirement from Carbide in 1979, he joined the Exxon Corporation in Linden, NJ, then fully retired to Charlotte, NC in 1987. The highlights of his career included the development of many patents, as well as receiving several awards, including the American Chemical Society’s Award for Most Creative Invention, and Murray State’s Distinguished Alumnus.

During his time in West Virginia, Roy met and married Margaret Fabry. They raised two daughters, Barbara and Susan, there and in New Jersey, and had a wonderful life together. Roy had several interests, including golf and orchid horticulture, but his greatest passion was the study and teaching of God’s word. He led many people to a relationship with God over the years, especially during his retirement in Charlotte, where he served as an elder in the Providence Road Church of Christ. After his wife Margaret’s passing in 2000, Roy married Maria Ines “Inesita” Celis. They blended their families and cultures, and continued to love and serve the church together for 12 years.

Upon Inesita’s passing in 2013, Roy moved to Cincinnati, OH to be near his daughter Susan and her family. While this was a difficult time of transition, he remained determined to stay faithful and active in his service to the Lord. He continued to teach and serve in the Prime Time ministry in the Cincinnati Church of Christ for several years.

Roy is survived by his daughters Barbara (Steve) Collier, of Lilburn, GA; and Susan (Tom) Schuetz, of Raleigh, NC; his 6 grandchildren, Art (Julia) Collier, of Greensboro, NC; David (Nony) Collier, of Oklahoma City, OK; Allison Collier, also of Lilburn, GA; Kristen Schuetz, of Alexandria, VA; Sarah Schuetz, also of Raleigh, NC; Matthew Schuetz, of Cincinnati, OH; his stepchildren Aida (Armando) Perdomo, of Pineville, NC; Alex (Liliana Gonzalez) Duran, of Miami, FL; Walter Duran, of Cali, Colombia; and Juan Carlos (Flor Alba Garcia) Duran, of Bogata, Colombia; 5 step-grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and 5 step-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, David Pruett and Vivian Gray Pruett; brother Phebus Pruett; and wives Margaret Fabry Pruett and Maria Ines Celis Pruett.

There will be a memorial service honoring Roy’s life at Providence Road Church of Christ, 4900 Providence Road, Charlotte, on Saturday, February 5 at 12:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: Hospice of Cincinnati (hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate) or Courtyard at Seasons – Resident Services, 7100 Dearwester Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45236 Attn: Amy Rothan.