Roger Elliot Pruitt

Born in Savannah, Georgia, May 13, 1951, Roger Elliot Pruitt was the eldest of three sons born to Simon and Leola Pruitt. The family eventually left Georgia for Fort Worth, Texas, where he grew up and attended school in FWISD.

Roger graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in 1970. At Dunbar, he played trumpet in the marching band under the legendary Charles Scott. Following high school, he proudly served in the United States Air Force and attended Air Traffic Control school. He was honorably discharged four years later. It was Roger’s love for aviation that led him to DFW Airport, working as an Airtrans Controller until he retired after 31 years of distinguished service.

Fishing, online flight simulation games, and music were among Roger’s favorite hobbies. Ever the music lover, especially 70s and 80s genres, Roger composed music, and could often be heard belting out tunes on his trumpet. Most recently, he took delight in being a “Papi”, spending quality time with his grandchildren.

Solid Bible study and fellowship with his church community and friends were other activities he looked forward to. In fact, he was most proud of his achievement in Bible Studies, earning his license as an ordained minister in 2010.

Roger battled kidney disease and was a long-term dialysis patient for almost 20 years. While his health was compromised for some time during the past years, he always made time to reach out to friends and family, give encouragement to other dialysis patients, and lift others up in prayer.

Roger passed away May 10, 2023, and is preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Leola Pruitt, and his daughter, Tori Pruitt.

He is survived by his wife, Cecilia Thomas of 22 years. Roger also leaves behind his daughter, Charmaine Pruitt of Forest Hill, Texas. Other survivors include two step-children, and their spouses: Travis and Jaha Goins (Tanner – grandson) of Arlington, Texas and Vincent Blow and Lisa Yanageida Blow (Myla – granddaughter) of Bedford, Texas; brothers Andrew Pruitt of Dallas, Texas, Simon and Linda Pruitt, of Arlington, Texas; cousin, Sandy Joyce Hemphill of Fort Worth, Texas; and a host of other family and friends.