Prudence "Prudy" B. Smulczenski

Prudy Smulczenski of Georgetown, Texas passed away peacefully on Thursday, 3 February 2022 at age 79 with her husband and daughters at bedside. She was born on October 6, 1942 in Madison, New Jersey, the daughter of William and Ethel Brown and younger sister to Susan.

Prudy attended Madison High School and graduated from Green Mountain Community College in Vermont. She married an Air Force fighter pilot who was shot down over North Vietnam and incarcerated in Hanoi for seven years. In his absence, Prudy raised her daughter, Kimberly, who was born before his departure from the United States. After his repatriation, they had Cynthia, but shortly thereafter, they separated. Prudy packed up the two girls and moved to Fort Walton Beach in Northwest Florida where many of the women lived that had military husbands that were Prisoners of War (POW), Missing in Action (MIA), or deceased. These girls all had the same problems, understood how each other felt, and were willing to help one another, so Prudy fit right in.

This is where Prudy and Larry met and courted during the late seventies and early eighties. Prudy loved to dance and could make up for all of Larry's missteps, so they followed their favorite small band dancing across the Florida Panhandle. They married in November 1980 and observed their 41st anniversary this past year. Prudy had to make a quick adjustment in her lifestyle as her family of three suddenly became six with the addition of a husband and two older children, Larry, Scott, and Sherrie. Prudy loved the new house, the proximity of the beach and all the new acquaintances from Larry's organization. Yes, she definitely loved life, but ultimately, loved her family. However, as with all military families, transfers and moving come frequently, and in this case, it was off to Austin and the University of Texas where Larry was assigned as head of the Air Force ROTC program. Again, Prudy adjusted to being around thousands of college students and loved the football games, the Broadway shows on campus, and the college lifestyle.

Four years later, it was time to move again, this time with only three family members. Scott and Sherrie had graduated from the University of Texas and Kim was to start at Texas State in the fall. Cindy was still in grade school when Larry was offered a position in the Philippines. Prudy stayed in Texas until Kim was established in college, and then she and Cindy flew to join Larry. The Philippines was a garden paradise to Prudy with avocados, bananas, coconuts, papayas, and pineapples plus dozens of flower varieties growing in the backyard. She had a live-in maid that took care of the cleaning, cooking, and other household duties, so Prudy seriously took up golf with the other officers' wives. The girls played golf nearly every day, and Prudy quickly joined them. She found out from the girls that there were other things to do in the Philippines other than playing golf. There were weekend training flights for the pilots to Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Japan that left on Friday and didn't return until Sunday night or Monday, which were fantastic shopping trips. The girls could sign up and go on these flights. On these trips, Prudy learned about the Orient, and developed a love of travel. She established a lifelong friendship with the girls stationed in the Philippines.

Retirement came after the Philippines, and Prudy, Larry, and Cindy came back to Austin. When the nest emptied with Cindy going off to college, Larry and Prudy returned to the Florida house that they left shortly after getting married. Prudy's girls all married Texans and remained in the Austin area. She started making trips back to Austin to see the grandbabies, so travel and golf were the main activities. As the trips increased, the Smulczenski's agreed it was only wise to move back to the Austin area. They were very fortunate to find the house that Prudy adored among the garden homes in Berry Creek adjacent to the golf course just north of Georgetown.

Prudy was happy and she frequently said she had lived a great life. She had her girls and grandkids closeby, and she could play golf year round. Even when she wasn't playing, she could sit on the porch, read, and wave to her friends as they played the fifth hole behind the home. Prudy had a hole-in-one during monthly Couples play during 2007, and in 2011, she and Larry somehow won the Couples Golf League Championship. She even smiled at the simple things in life like her morning K-cup of coffee or that one glass of box wine that she had after the evening meal. Prudy loved animals, and in later life when she couldn't remember the neighbors' name, she would cross the street or hustle down the block to pet their dogs. Prudy and Larry went on ten cruises, a bus tour of Poland, and a self-tour of Italy, plus numerous weeklong trips throughout the United States. Prudy was thrilled to see the small joey in the mother kangaroo's pouch in Tasmania or the multiple waterfalls and geysers in Iceland. She marveled at the beauty of the Vatican and the craftsmanship of the builders of the Panama Canal. The yearly trip to Port Clinton, Ohio to join with a group of women affectionately known as Tiger Lillies, visiting interesting sites throughout Ohio while the guys met to discuss hobby interests, was a trip that Prudy really looked forward to. Yes, life was good.

The family would like to sincerely thank the devoted staff at Baylor Scott and White Hospice Georgetown for the quick response, the incredible care, and compassion during these difficult days.

Prudy is preceded in death by her father and mother, William and Ethel Brown. She is survived by her loving husband Larry; her sister Susan Coe; her daughters, Kimberly Morrow (Todd) and Cynthia Garza (Ernesto); her stepson Scott Smulczenski (Kelly); her stepdaughter Sheryll Ann Ischy (Kevin); and her grandchildren, Sterling (Courtney) and Brianna Morrow, Daelyn and Bryleigh Garza, Danielle and Hanna Smulczenski, and Caleigh Ischy.

In lieu of flowers, any donations may be made to Baylor Scott and White Hospice Georgetown, mailed to BSW CTX Foundation, MS 20-S103, 2401 S 31st St, Temple, Texas 76508, or A Gift of Time, P.O. Box 427, Georgetown, Texas 78627 (a Dementia Organization).

A celebration of life will be held at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628, on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 1:00 PM, with coffee and pastries being served following services until 3 PM. Interment at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery will occur on Monday, March 14, 2022. The dress for the celebration of life is informal. Prudy always said she did not recognize people when they dressed up formally, so let us have her recognize all that attend.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Smulczenski family.