Obituary of William Olander Pritchett
A Tribute to Bill Pritchett
On April 27, early in the morning, at age 101, almost 102, William Olander Pritchett, affectionately known as Bill, Dad, Gramps, Gray Grandpa, Pastor Bill, and Pastor Guillermo, left this earth for his eternal home.
Bill lived his every moment to glorify his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a lover of God and His Word, faithful husband, caring Dad, affectionate Gramps, adoring Gray Grandpa, steadfast mentor, anointed preacher, dedicated discipler, loving pastor, and pioneer missionary. His legacy is one of honoring Jesus in everything he did.
Pastor Bill’s investment in other’s lives has influenced, impacted and brought lasting change to thousands of people worldwide who consider him their spiritual father. He helped us all look deeper into perplexing passages, gave us head-scratching proverbs, and taught us how to live by example and by God’s Word
William Olander Pritchett was born on June 23, 1917 to Bob and Allie Pritchett in Whiteflat, Texas. He started working on the family farm at an early age and rode horseback to school and baseball practice. He graduated from Matador High School, a football star.
At age 19 he started attending the Lubbock Foursquare Church when he began studying at Texas Tech. It was there that he dedicated his life to the Lord, was filled with the Holy Spirit and received his call to ministry. Within weeks of this life-transforming experience, Bill left Texas for California to fulfill his calling.
It was at L.I.F.E. Bible College that Bill met Betty who was also studying for the ministry. Aimee Semple McPherson married them in Angelus Temple on Easter Sunday, April 25, 1943. From that moment on, it was always Bill and Betty in everything they did. When Betty passed away in 2010, they had been happily married 67-1/2 years.
Two weeks after they were married, they began ministry together as pastors in West Hollywood, California. From there, they pastored in Weinert and Amarillo, Texas, and served as missionaries in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Spain. After 27 years as missionaries, Bill and Betty retired and returned to the US to serve as Assistant Pastors at The Lighthouse Church in Santa Monica. During retirement they served again in Spain, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. In 1992, they moved to Woodland, California and became pastors of the Woodland Foursquare Church. Bill continued as Pastor of record for the Woodland Hispanic Foursquare Church until he was 99 years of age.
To become a missionary to Latin America, Bill learned Spanish in his 30’s, mostly by reading the Bible. He memorized the contents of many books of the Bible – in Spanish. He took up tennis in his 80’s. He swam every day through age 99.
He astonished and charmed us all with his vitality, love for life and for others, and most of all. his great smile and generous laugh. Bill blessed each of us with personal attention, acceptance and true love.
Bill loved every member of his family deeply and was loved and honored by them. He is now in eternal home with his wife, Betty, his parents and his three siblings, Robert, Truett and AlaGene. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Linda and Lewie Richey, Darrell and Diane Pritchett and Karen and Rodney Wirth, his 11 grandchildren and their spouses, Casey Pritchett, Corey and Stefanie Pritchett, Selina Pritchett, Rosie Pritchett, Michael Pritchett, Alanna and Eliberto Rodriguez, Megan and Jacob Scoggins, Sean and Sarah Sebastian, Lewis and Angie Richey, Lucas and Eunice Richey, and Gretha Wirth, his 19 great grandchildren, Lauren Pritchett, Jack Pritchett, Ben Pritchett, Cole Pritchett, Riley Pritchett, Dominic Pritchett, Sophie Pritchett, Donovan Rodriguez, Devin Rodriguez, Davon Rodriguez, Dominic Rodriguez, Levi Scoggins, Eleanor Scoggins, Baby Scoggins, due in July, Viola Sebastian, Ethan Richey, Natalie Richey, Joel Richey and Christian Richey
and 2 great great grandchildren, Ryder Ernst and Iyla Ernst.
Today Pastor Bill is saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7
A Memorial Service for Bill Pritchett will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, June 8, at Pathway Christian Fellowship, 9950 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, California 91325.
Another Memorial Service for Bill Pritchett will be held at 10 am on Saturday, June 22, at Grace Community Church, 251 Countryside Ct., Southlake, Texas 76092.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Tia Linda Ministries.
-Gifts can be made online at www.tialindaministries.org.
-Checks made payable to Tia Linda Ministries can be mailed to
Tia Linda Ministries P O Box 1486 Santa Clarita, CA 91325