Life Story for Mr. Robert J. Pratt
Robert James Pratt Jr.
June 5, 1955- June 27, 2021
Robert, Bob, Husband, Dad, Poppy, Uncle, Brother, Friend passed away June 27, 2021 surrounded by his wife and children. He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Pratt Sr., and his mother, Ruth (Stafford) Pratt. He is survived by his wife Linda (Sawyer) Pratt; his children Melissa Pratt-Zossoungbo and Jason Pratt; his beloved granddaughters Ella Kate Pratt, Coralyn Zossoungbo, and Beatrice Zossoungbo; his sisters Kathy (Sandhaus) Pratt and Chrissy (Mclaughlin) Pratt; his many nieces and nephews and his best friend and companion, Maybelle.
Robert was born in Philadelphia, PA and attended Lincoln High School where he graduated at 16 and headed to Gordon College in Massachusetts. It was there he met the love of his life on the first day of freshman orientation. Bob and Linda were the inseparable pair and were together 49 years, married for 43 of those.
Anyone who knew Bob knew that he loved a “good” joke, some more colorful than others and some retold countless times. Some of his favorites were those he told to his granddaughters. He knew no matter how many times he asked “guess what?”, he’d get giggles and the response “chicken butt” along with other nonsensical punchlines that he rewarded with belly laughs. Poppy knew how to get the laughs.
Growing up with dad we had endless made up activities like pool wiffle ball, golf-ball baseball, and basketball shootouts. He spent hours building legos and driving matchbox cars around make believe cities. He facilitated many adventures that always seemed to have a little danger and a life lesson (don’t forget the plug in the boat, don’t cross a tug boat under a bridge, don’t shine a light around while you are swimming in a river at night if you don’t want to know how many gators are swimming with you). He loved to camp and was a master tarp hanger. He loved his dogs, video games, and guitar playing, including writing such hits as “mommy drives me nuts”, which we loved, but mom did not.
We did test him often, one of us more than the other. The ever present threat of stringing me up by a new piercing, or visiting me in the cafeteria at lunch and calling out “where’s my dolly” were enough to make me behave. Jason on the other hand will never live down the time he rolled in at 2 am to see mom and dad, coffee in hand, waiting for him to which he replied “whats up”.
Robert loved his family and friends and we all knew it. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, bail someone out of a tough situation, or offer friendly advice. We can know with confidence that nothing was left unsaid to those who knew him. In honor of Dad, have a cocktail, help your neighbor, take time to have a conversation with a friend and split a cheese stick with a dog.
June 5, 1955- June 27, 2021
Robert, Bob, Husband, Dad, Poppy, Uncle, Brother, Friend passed away June 27, 2021 surrounded by his wife and children. He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Pratt Sr., and his mother, Ruth (Stafford) Pratt. He is survived by his wife Linda (Sawyer) Pratt; his children Melissa Pratt-Zossoungbo and Jason Pratt; his beloved granddaughters Ella Kate Pratt, Coralyn Zossoungbo, and Beatrice Zossoungbo; his sisters Kathy (Sandhaus) Pratt and Chrissy (Mclaughlin) Pratt; his many nieces and nephews and his best friend and companion, Maybelle.
Robert was born in Philadelphia, PA and attended Lincoln High School where he graduated at 16 and headed to Gordon College in Massachusetts. It was there he met the love of his life on the first day of freshman orientation. Bob and Linda were the inseparable pair and were together 49 years, married for 43 of those.
Anyone who knew Bob knew that he loved a “good” joke, some more colorful than others and some retold countless times. Some of his favorites were those he told to his granddaughters. He knew no matter how many times he asked “guess what?”, he’d get giggles and the response “chicken butt” along with other nonsensical punchlines that he rewarded with belly laughs. Poppy knew how to get the laughs.
Growing up with dad we had endless made up activities like pool wiffle ball, golf-ball baseball, and basketball shootouts. He spent hours building legos and driving matchbox cars around make believe cities. He facilitated many adventures that always seemed to have a little danger and a life lesson (don’t forget the plug in the boat, don’t cross a tug boat under a bridge, don’t shine a light around while you are swimming in a river at night if you don’t want to know how many gators are swimming with you). He loved to camp and was a master tarp hanger. He loved his dogs, video games, and guitar playing, including writing such hits as “mommy drives me nuts”, which we loved, but mom did not.
We did test him often, one of us more than the other. The ever present threat of stringing me up by a new piercing, or visiting me in the cafeteria at lunch and calling out “where’s my dolly” were enough to make me behave. Jason on the other hand will never live down the time he rolled in at 2 am to see mom and dad, coffee in hand, waiting for him to which he replied “whats up”.
Robert loved his family and friends and we all knew it. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, bail someone out of a tough situation, or offer friendly advice. We can know with confidence that nothing was left unsaid to those who knew him. In honor of Dad, have a cocktail, help your neighbor, take time to have a conversation with a friend and split a cheese stick with a dog.