William Lawrence Pray

Bill was born on March 16, 1933, to Ardys Lee and Hazel Jean Wailes Pray in Wayne County, IA. Growing up in Humeston, Iowa, Bill excelled in athletics and academics, graduating in 1950 from Humeston High School. He was nominated to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and following a year of advanced study at Iowa State University, he enrolled in the Naval Academy in 1951 and graduated with the class of 1955.

Thus began an illustrious and varied 32-year career in the Navy, which included command of the Polaris ballistic missile submarine USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (SSBN-656) (blue crew) from 1969 to 1971, which was Capt. Pray’s proudest and most defining achievement. Prior to this, Capt. Pray served on two surface ships, USS PERRY (DD-844) from 1955 to 1958, and USS OKLAHOMA CITY (CLG-5) from 1960 to 1962 and earned a master’s degree in meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1960. Following a tour as weather officer in Guam, Capt. Pray commenced nuclear power school training and reported to his first ballistic missile submarine, USS THOMAS A EDISON (SSBN-610), serving from 1965 to 1966, followed by his tour on USS JAMES K POLK (SSBN-645) from 1967 to 1969 where he served as Executive Officer and qualified for command of the CARVER. The responsibility of commanding a nuclear-powered submarine carrying 16 nuclear missiles and 50 nuclear warheads in a ready launch status was a heavy one, and he carried it well.

Bill followed his submarine duty with tours at the Pentagon; Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE; command of the Navy ROTC unit University of Colorado, Boulder; and US Central Command, Tampa, FL where he retired in 1987. During his Pentagon tour he coordinated the early development phases of the future Tomahawk cruise missile, and in 1976 was a negotiator in the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) talks at Geneva, Switzerland opposite the Russian delegation.

While at the Naval Academy, Bill met and fell in love with Elizabeth Anne Beall of Baltimore, MD, and despite his hectic duties on the PERRY he successfully courted and married her on July 10, 1958. They enjoyed 62 wonderful years of marriage. In his retirement Bill continued his passion for gardening, took up painting seascapes, sailing ships, and portraits and volunteered at church and the Tampa Bay Aquarium. Bill also loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by children James Pray (Rita) of Johnston, IA; Janet Lauber (Jeff) of Minneapolis, MN; Jeff Pray (Jennifer) of Newnan, GA; Andrew Pray (Yvette) of Tampa, FL; grandchildren Michael (Lora), Jennifer (Ben), Jessica (Ravi), Andrew (Lauren), Peyton (fiancé Samantha), Jeffrey, Riley, Ella, Avery, Henry, Arianna, Evan, Ben, Owen and Nathan; great-grandchildren Liam, Kyla, Rishi, Jiya, and Robin; sister Judy Allie; nephew Randy Poole; and nieces Brenda Gardner (Doug) and Megan Hopkins. Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife Anne and his sister Barbara.

Bill Pray was a true embodiment of servant leadership and Christian faith and is missed tremendously by his family and all those he impacted throughout his life.

3 pm Visitation, 4 pm Service, November 15, 2025, Blount and Curry Funeral Home-Carrollwood, 3207 W Bearss Ave, Tampa, FL.

Internment at New York Cemetery, Wayne County, IA.