Richard Pretz

Highlands, NC and Atlanta, GA - Richard Pretz passed away peacefully April 3rd, 2013 after a long, well fought illness with Alzheimer’s. He was born in January 1931 in Oak Park, Illinois to the late Mr and Mrs. Richard Hersch Pretz of Atlanta, Georgia. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jeanie Sutherland Pretz of Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Also surviving are his sister Lavinia Pretz Phillips of Orange, Virginia and two devoted daughters Diana Pretz of Columbia, South Carolina and Linda Pretz Candler and son in law Bill Candler of Atlanta and a son who pre-deceased him, Richard Bradley Pretz.

Dick had four wonderful grand children of whom he was very proud; Rachael Strasburger Wall and Kyle Strasburger of Columbia, S.C and William and Vallie Candler of Atlanta, Georgia. He also had one niece and three nephews.

Dick graduated from The Darlington School in 1949 and later attended the Georgia Institute of Technology graduating with a degree in Industrial Management in 1952. While at Georgia Tech, Dick played football for revered coach Bobby Dodd and always spoke fondly and with much gratitude about Bobby’s leadership as a coach and a gentleman. Two football memories that Dick and his teammates recalled happily were being a member of the 1952 National Championship Football Team and that Dick ran the only touchdown on the first ever televised college football game versus Alabama! His days with team mates and memories of Georgia Tech football meant a great deal to him. After college, he went to work with Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. He then went on to serve in the Army in the Anti Aircraft Artillery Division in Niagara Falls at Fort Niagara from 1953 to 1956. After his service, Dick went to work for Matthews Construction Company in Atlanta. After a few years, he began his own general contracting company, Pretz Construction Company, in 1969. He built commercial construction around Atlanta until he retired in 1991. After retirement, Dick and Jeanie moved up to the western North Carolina mountains to live year around where he could enjoy the outdoors, hunting, fishing and walks with his dogs! He played tennis with friends for many years in Atlanta and North Carolina. Dick loved Jeanie, his family, the beautiful N.C. mountains and his companionable dogs! He was so proud of this great country and its vast patriotic history and had a passion for stories of our founding fathers, the civil war, and the early settlers.

Many very heartfelt thanks and love go to Dick’s doctors, wonderful nurses and caregivers who took such loving care of Dick and his family during these past challenging years. They each are a true blessing to all.

A memorial service is planned for 2:30 pm on Friday April 5th, 2013 at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. The family will receive friends after the service at Linda and Bill Candler’s, 4722 Woodvale Drive NW, Atlanta for a reception in Dick’s memory. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions to The Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 550, Atlanta, Georgia 30346.

Bryant Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.