Obituary for Gerald F. Prange of Pinehurst

Gerald F. (Gerry) Prange, age 100, of Pinehurst, NC, died on February 13th, 2023 following a short illness.

Gerry was born December 31, 1922 in Lancaster, PA to Pearl and H. Frank Prange.  He graduated from J. P. McCaskey High School, class of 1940, in Lancaster, and held BS and Masters degrees in Wood Science and Technology respectively, from Penn State University and The State University of New York at Syracuse.  A veteran of WWII, he was Staff Sergeant with the 9th Air Force, serving in England, France and Germany.

Gerry married his high school sweetheart, Mary M. Winnerling, of Lancaster, PA, who passed away December 2012, after celebrating 69 years of marriage.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister June and Jack Collins.  Gerry is survived by his daughter Judith Anne and Walter Havenstein of Pinehurst, NC daughter Carol Anne and JR Roscher of Pawley’s Island, SC, and a daughter Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) and Bruce Brenner of Lebanon, PA.  He is also survived by grandson Walter and Mary Havenstein and great granddaughters Lindsey and Riley, grandson Ken and Amy Roscher and great grandsons John Michael and Sam, Grandson Zack and Emily Henderson and granddaughter Katie and Asher Langenfeld and great grandson Grayson.  Gerald is also survived by his sister Janis and Ray Sylte and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Prange was a research engineer for Johns Manville Corp. of NJ, and the Timber Engineering Co. in Washington, DC before joining the National Forest Products Association, NFPA, as a Director of the Technical Division.  He subsequently became the Vice President for Technical Operations, a position he held until retirement in 1986.  Gerry was an honored recipient of the Borden Award for Outstanding Wood Industry Research.  He was also an appointee to the Building Research Advisory Board of the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council.

As a lifelong marksman, Gerald Prange was an All American Rifle Team member, as Captain of the Penn State Rifle Team.  He was a member of the Lancaster, PA Rifle Team as a teenager, a member of the Rappahannock Pistol and Rifle Club, and most recently, the Moore County, NC Wildlife and Conservation Club.  As modest golfers, Gerry and Mary enjoyed playing the courses at Pinewild Country Club with family and friends.

Throughout his busy career, Gerry was, at heart, a sailor who, with wife Mary, his daughters, and many friends happily cruised the Chesapeake Bay in their ketch, the Hoyden, (German for Rambunctious Tomboy).

Gerry was lovingly known as Granddad or GD to his grandchildren and Gramps to his great grandchildren.  Possessing a wonderful memory, he was a master storyteller, and creator of limericks, who enjoyed entertaining his family and friends.  He loved playing the kazoo and singing too!  He will greatly be missed by all who knew him and considered him a friend.

A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Village Chapel, 10 Azalea Rd. Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Online condolences may be made at www.BolesFuneralHome.com

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

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