Madeleine Le Maitre Pruitt

“A True American”

1923 – 2019

Madeleine L. Pruitt, 95, of Houston, TX passed away at her home on Thursday February 7, 2019 surrounded by her family. She was born at the LeMaitre family farm near St. Lo in the French province of Normandy on July 14, 1923 (Bastille Day). At age 6 she was severely burned in an accident at the farm and faced a difficult recovery. Yet her strong will was evident even at that young age. Although she was left with scars from the injury, she never indulged in self-pity.

During the German occupation of France in 1940 the LeMaitre family home was taken over by the German Army and used as a local garrison. The family of seven was forced to live in one room during this occupation. But life goes on even during wartime, and Madeleine went off to nursing school in occupied Paris from 1941 – 1943. She vividly remembers looking to the sky and seeing hundreds of B-17s flying in formation in their mission to defeat the Nazis.

After the war she became a nurse and worked in Paris and in Scotland. In the early 1950s, she met and married an American Army officer, Major John H. Pruitt. After a tour of duty in Greece, John and Madeleine were stationed in Fort Lee, Virginia, where their son John was born. Adjusting to life in a new country, Madeleine sought to learn all that she could about American history, customs, and the English language. She visited many Civil War battlefields and became well-versed in Civil War history.

Madeleine became an American citizen in 1961 and for the rest of her life embraced being an American. She loved her adopted country and knew more of its history than most native citizens. Madeleine was a tolerant and progressive woman, supporting both the civil rights and women’s rights movements. She had strong opinions on many issues and could engage in an intelligent debate.

With Madeleine’s passing, America has lost a stalwart of the Greatest Generation. Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millennials might take a lesson from the values and perseverance of her generation.

Madeleine was preceded in death by her husband, Colonel John H. Pruitt (USAR), parents Georges and Marie LeMaitre, sister Francoise Loyer, and brother Andre LeMaitre. She is survived by her son John E. Pruitt and wife Patty Daniels of Houston, and their children John D. Pruitt, Hannah D. Pruitt and her partner Richard Dietz, of Austin. Also part of Madeleine’s extended and beloved family are Patty’s brother Brian Daniels and sister Debbie Daniels of Houston, and Debbie’s daughter Kiera Krieg and husband Tyler Krieg of Seattle, Washington. Surviving relatives in France include her sisters Marie Jeanne Belhache of Isigny, Normandy and Marie Joseph Charron of Caen, Normandy, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at the Waltrip Funeral Home, 1415 Campbell Road on Monday, February 11 at 3:00 PM. In lieu of traditional remembrances, please make a donation in Madeleine’s memory to Special Olympics Texas, PO Box 143806, Austin, TX 78714-3806 or www.sotx.org