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Paul Lynch Pratt

Paul Lynch Pratt

Paul Lynch Pratt

September 4, 1938 - July 2, 2024: Paul Lynch Pratt, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully at his home in Georgetown, Texas on July 2, 2024, due to heart failure at the age of eighty-five.

Born on September 4, 1938, in Burlington, Vermont, Paul was the son of Paul S. Pratt and Alice M. Pratt. Paul had three siblings, the late Joyce Pratt Dowd, his brother James Lee Pratt and sister Carolyn Pratt Yarnell. Paul’s early years were spent working in the family dairy business where he learned the value of hard work. Paul told his children his first vehicle was a milk truck, and he learned to drive by making deliveries of bottled milk to customers of his father’s dairy in the 1950s, back when milkmen delivered fresh milk in glass bottles to the home.

Paul graduated from Cathedral High School in 1956 and from Saint Michael’s College in 1960 both in Burlington, Vermont. He dearly valued the life-long friendships of his classmates and stayed connected with friends from both schools through phone calls, letters and visits during his annual summer vacations to Vermont.

After graduation from college, Paul enlisted in the United States Navy where he proudly served on the Admiral’s staff aboard the U.S.S. Boston, a guided missile cruiser and flagship, taking part in exercises off the coasts of Northern Europe, the Caribbean and the eastern United States.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Paul met his wife, Irene J. Pratt, in March 1964, and they married on January 23, 1965. In 1965, Paul began a thirty-year career with the IBM corporation as a human resources specialist who, over the course of his career, worked in recruiting, employee benefits, and management. Paul’s career with IBM brought him to Austin, Texas, in 1975.

Paul’s greatest joy in life was his family. Paul is survived by his wife of 59 years, Irene, their children David Lee (Christine) Pratt of Dallas, Texas, and Suzanne Pratt (Jeff) Farrell of Austin, Texas, and his four grandchildren Sarah Jane Farrell, Jack Austin Farrell, David Bradley Pratt and William Bennett Pratt.

Paul and Irene moved to Sun City in Georgetown, Texas, in 1996 where they enjoyed retirement together for 28 years. Paul was a good neighbor who showed his affection for others with acts of service such as assisting with home repair projects, watching the house for an out of town friend, or driving an elderly neighbor to a doctor’s appointment.

A devout Catholic who lived his faith in all facets of his life, Paul was faithful to God, to his spouse, to his children and grandchildren, to his country and to long-held values. Paul was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and spent much of his time in retirement volunteering as an officer of that organization at his local parish donating his time and talents to projects to benefit the community, living his faith performing charitable works in service to others.

Paul was an active bridge player throughout his life and played with the same men’s bridge group in Austin, Texas, for over 40 years. Paul’s favorite bridge partner, his wife Irene, says that Paul loved playing a NT card hand. His children regrettably have no idea what that means, but our mother assures us bridge players everywhere will understand.

A funeral Mass for Paul will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday August 30, 2024, at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church at 6571 FM 970, Florence, Texas, 76527. A reception will be held at the church at 11 a.m. Paul will be laid to rest with military honors at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 30, 2024, at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at 11463 TX-195, Killeen, Texas, 76542.

Paul suffered from macular degeneration and glaucoma later in life, which ultimately left him blind and unable to play bridge or drive. Memorial donations in Paul’s name may be made to  Foundation Fighting Blindness (P.O. Box 45740, Baltimore, Maryland, 21297-5740, ph. 800-683-5555, www.fightingblindness.org) or to Paul’s alma mater, Saint Michael’s College (One Winooski Park, Colchester, VT, 05439,  802-654-2000, www.smcvt.edu/giving).

Paul Lynch Pratt will forever be remembered for his faithfulness to the Holy Roman Catholic Church established by Jesus himself at the Last Supper, for his love for his family and friends, and for his dedication to making the world a better place. We pray for the repose of Paul’s soul. May he rest in peace, knowing he was deeply loved and cherished by all who knew him.