Emery "Bud" Prunty

Emery Lee "Bud" Prunty, age 81, of Petersburg, WV passed away Monday, January 4, 2016 at home after a long illness.

Born May 13, 1934, in Oxford, Ritchie County, West Virginia, the son of the late Claude O. and Gertrude (Pratt) Prunty. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his grandson, Thomas Pendleton Bowers; three brothers, Claude O. "Tom" Prunty, Jr., William Frank Prunty and Richard Pratt Prunty; one sister, Carol Guthrie. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.

Bud graduated from Pennsboro High School in 1951, West Virginia University in 1955, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. He received a Masters degree in Extention Educaton in 1966 from WVU. He taught vocational agriculture for one year at Pennsboro High School in Ritchie County. He then served in the United States Army for two years.

Bud began working with the West Virginia University Extension Service in 1959 in Pocohontas County. He transferred to Mineral County in 1962, then to Grant County in 1966. He was appointed to the rank of Professor in 1985. He retired in 1989 after thirty years with the WVU Extension Service.

He served on the WestVirginia Preformance Tested Bull Sale Committee for twenty-one years. He has been a member of the National and State County Agents Association, the Extension Workers Association, the Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension fraternity, where he served as historian.

He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He was a member of the Main Street United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School, served on and chaired several committees. He was President of the Aaron Keplinger Scholarship Committee. He served on the Board of Directors of Community action for many years. He was instrumental in forming Grant County Habitat for Humanity. He was a life member of the Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Auxiliary Inc. He volunteered at Burlington Apple Harvest Festival for over thirty years and was in charge of the ox roast for the festival. He was President of the Petersburg High School Athletic Boosters and a member of the West Virginia United Methodist Volunteers-in-Mission.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon (Jones) Prunty; two daughters, Deborah Ann Bowers and husband, Mark of Harrisonburg, VA and Sara Elizabeth Brown and husband, Charlie of Walnut Grove, MS, one son, Thomas Alan Prunty and wife, Kelly of Salisbury, MD; eight grandchildren, Kathryn Elizabeth Comans, John Prunty Bowers, Elizabeth Ann Barney, Miriah Elizabeth Landrum, Travis Emery Prunty, Quinn Maureen Prunty , Mary Josephine Prunty and Luke Thomas Prunty; two great granddaughters, Ansley Reese Landrum and Emery Lee Comans.

Family will receive friends on Friday, January 8, 2016 at the Main Street United Methodist Church in Petersburg from 4 -8 p.m.

Memorial service will be held at the Main Street United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Nathan Epling and the Rev. Roger A. Harrison Sr. and the Rev.Ann W. Harrison officiating.
Graveside services will be held on Monday, January 11, 2016 at 1 p.m. in the Harrisville I.O.O. F. Cemetery in Harrisville, WV.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Harrisonburg Rockingham Community Foundation, (A Dream Come True Playground) P.O. Box 1068, Harrisonburg, VA 22830 or Burlington United Methodist Family Services, P.O. Box 69, Burlington, WV 26710.

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