William "Noel" Pratt

William Noel Pratt was born in Los Angeles, California a few hours after Christmas Day on December 26, 1932. That is how he acquired his middle name which he went by all of his life. His parents Ralph Morgan Pratt and Venice Mary Pratt were a constant guide and loving parents. He is survived by his wife of 29 years Jan Kathleen Pratt, his brother Ralph Gordon Pratt from Hesperia, CA, his sister Judith Ann Sporrong from Ivins, Utah, his son William “Bill” Ralph Pratt, daughters Allison Klecker and Maryrose Pratt and 10 grandchildren.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the center of his life. He served in many positions such as Teacher, Teacher Development Leader, Sunday School President and Home Teacher and was active in the Boy Scouts in his early years.

Noel’s early years were spent in Inglewood, California and at age 16 years moved to Norco, California with his parents where some of the best times of his life were spent in the country riding horses and helping his father raise 20 acres of grapes. His parents moved to Riverside in 1954 where his father built the home on Washington Street where Noel passed away.

Working in the family business, Pratt Enterprises, with his father and older brother was done before college and in the summers in between semesters. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science and Public Administration. Noel’s Master’s Degree was obtained from the University of Redlands in Educational Administration and Counseling. He also later attended Claremont Graduate School working on a Doctorate in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education and finished all but the dissertation.

Noel’s career was divided into two occupations. In education he started as a 6th Grade Teacher then a Vice-Principle and ended up as a Principal in Escalante, Utah. He also substitute taught in Riverside County and Riverside Unified School District in his retirement years. Construction was also in his blood and he worked for many companies as Project Superintendent, Project Manager/Owner’s Agent building multi-million dollar projects in Riverside and the surrounding areas as well as a Flying J Travel Plaza in Texarkana, Texas.

In 1991 he suffered a heart attack and after that was fully aware of his heart problems. Noel was always an inveterate reader and when he found the internet he would sit for hours reading and studying. Motorcycles and airplanes were two of his greatest loves. He obtained a private pilot’s license in his 30’s and was an excellent pilot. He would take friends and family members up for a thrilling ride at Riverside Airport.

This kind, loving man will be greatly missed by family and friends. He has gone on to a much better place and awaits those that will follow.

His favorite quote was: “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”