William Pratt

"I knew this would happen"

William (Bill) Edwin Pratt of Tunkhannock, PA. Bill died at home surrounded by loved one's after a decades long battle with prostate cancer.

Bill, the son of Loren and Gladys Alden, was raised alongside his five siblings in Nicholson, PA. He was a graduate of Lackawanna Trail High School, where he was a self-proclaimed "benchwarmer on the basketball and track teams." He graduated from Johnson Technical College and completed engineering and mechanical design programs at Rochester Institute of Technology and The University of Scranton.

He started his career in tool design at Chamberlin Army Ammunition and then Conrail working in locomotive maintenance. Bill moved on to become a machinist at Medico Industries. Then General Dynamics invested in him and his education and he rose from quality control to become a tool design engineer dedicated to the M1A1 Abrams tank laser systems. He continued as a manufacturing engineer at Hindustan Dorr-Oliver and was inducted into the Society of Manufacturing Engineers as a Senior Member. He spent the latter years of his career putting his unique charm and skills to work as the Director of Customer Solutions at The PA Hutchinson Company.

In retirement, he fed his passion for giving back and spent his days working at Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen and volunteering for the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce. Bill also assumed the role of Vice Chairman of the Board at the Wyoming County Health Commission and was on the Board of The Howland Preserve prior to it becoming the Vosberg Neck State Park.

His wife and the love of his life, Marti (Babcock), was drawn to his kind heart, kilowatt smile and nice car over 57 years ago. They raised their 3 children in the house he built with his father in Tunkhannock and were members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Bill was a master of spontaneous wit and subtle sarcasm and made everything more fun, even funerals. He was a sports enthusiast and a devoted Eagles fan. Bill coached his kids sports when they were young and cheered from the sidelines through ball games and all of life's ups and downs. He taught them many things, including the fine art of pool cannonballs on unsuspecting victims. He will be forever missed by his children William Pratt, Redwood City, CA; Laura Ehrbar, Mendham Township, NJ; and Christy Baldassarre, New Vernon, NJ; and sons-in-law Robert Ehrbar and John Baldassarre.

The greatest recipients of his adoration and unexpected belly laughs are the only 6 people in the world who got to call him "Pa." Charlton, Penelope and Frederick Ehrbar and Benjamin, Andrew and Evelyn Henry. To be loved by Pa was truly "super" (his favorite word).

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and by 3 of his siblings, Robert Pratt, Loren (Butch) Alden and Doris Bauer Hayes. He will be sorely missed by his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as, his brother Donald Pratt and wife Joann, Nicholson, PA; sister Ann Johnson and husband Glenn, Maryville, TN; brothers-in-law, Jerry Hayes, Scranton, PA, Frank Babcock and wife Brenda, Williamsburg, VA, John Babcock and wife Christine, Levittown, PA; and a small army of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Bill leaves a legacy of humor, kindness, and service to others.

A visitation will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 PM from the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, PA 18657.

Family and friends are invited to attend Bill's funeral services which will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 11:00 AM from the Trinity Episcopal Church, 58 River St., Carbondale, PA 18407 with the Rev. Dr. Bill McGinty presiding.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen, 50 Warren St., Tunkhannock, PA 18657 are welcome.