Obituary of Dr. David C. Prickett, Sr., M.D.

Dr. David C. Prickett, Sr., M.D., passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 in La Mirada, CA at the age of 97. He was born November 26, 1918 in Fairmont, WV to Clinton E. and Mary Anna (Gottschalk) Prickett. He was their only son and he had a sister and half-sister. Dr. Prickett attended Barnes School, West Fairmont High School, Fairmont State College and West Virginia University. He earned his medical degree at the University of Louisville in Kentucky in 1946 and a Masters of Public Health from University of Pittsburgh in 1955. In his lengthy career, David utilized his medical training in a variety of assignments. David served on active duty in the U.S. Army. After the end of WW II, he served two years on the Navaho Reservation in New Mexico in the U.S. Government Public Health Service. Upon returning to Fairmont, he had a private medical practice. In 1961, Dr. Prickett moved from West Virginia and held various physician positions in occupational medicine, primarily in California where he resided since 1966. Dr. Prickett married Mary Ellen Holt of Fairmont in 1940 and they had three sons and three daughters. Dr. Prickett enjoyed caring for his patients and especially serving in southern West Virginia in several stints as a temporary doctor for rural clinics. He was proud of his West Virginia heritage and liked to return to visit in the Fairmont/Morgantown area. He enjoyed singing old hit tunes, square dancing, and family gatherings. In addition to his parents, Dr. Prickett was preceded in death by his sisters, Sara Prickett Adams and Thelma Prickett Satterfield McCoy, wife Mary Ellen, and son-in-law Steve Newman. He is survived by sister-in-law Laura Jean Jimmie of Morgantown and her family and Mary Jo Prickett (widow of his cousin Robert D. Prickett) and her family of Laurel Point. Surviving David are sons Dr. David C. Prickett, Jr., M.D., (Vicki) of Kearney, MO; Dr. William R. Prickett, M.D., (Diana) of Albuquerque, NM; James T. Prickett (Peggy) of Whittier, CA; daughters Rebecca Replogle (Bruce) of Lake Elsinore, CA; Mary Anne Rowan (Bill) of Fairmont; and Sara Gallegos (George) of Whittier, CA. Also surviving are nine grandchildren James R. Prickett (Jennifer), Geoffrey (Tessa) Prickett, Steven Prickett, Laura Prickett, Matthew Prickett, Joshua Prickett, Lauren (John) Rau, Katie (John) Schutz-Fincham, Molly Prickett, and David T. Gallegos. Great grandchildren are James R. Prickett, Jr. and Jordan Prickett, Natasha and Bennett Rau, Garrett, Evan, and Emma Schutz, and Audrey Prickett. A memorial service is being held on October 12, 2016, at 1:00pm at White-Emerson Mortuary, 13304 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA. On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, a visitation hour is scheduled at 1:00pm at Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia Street, Fairmont, WV, to be followed by a burial service at Woodlawn Cemetery, Fairmont.