Donald Edward Pryor, 77, of Madison, AL passed away on Sunday February 14.
Don was born in Murphy, NC to James E. and Mattie Brooks Pryor. He grew up in Knoxville, TN attending West High School, and earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Tennessee in 1961.
In 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Lyndall “Lyn” Kraft and the couple moved to Madison, AL in 1961. The couple moved to south Huntsville in 1963 where they raised daughter Patti, and son, Mike, in a loving home.
In 1961, Don began a 37 year career at Marshall Space Flight Center with NASA. During the Apollo years, Don worked in the propulsion and vehicle engineering lab on the F1 and J2X engines, later assuming leadership of the J2X project. Post Apollo, he was assigned to advanced technologies related to the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) and was instrumental in the post-Challenger “return to flight” activity. He retired from NASA in 1998.
Beginning with Lyn’s interest in a 1931 Model A Ford, Don entered a lifelong love of collecting, restoring, and showing antique and collectable cars. Don and Lyn owned and restored many cars ranging from heavy classics of the 1930’s to Model A’s, Thunderbirds, Mustangs, ’57 Chevys, and Corvettes. He was an active member and former president of the North Alabama Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA). Don also had a lifelong love of music and the guitar and enjoyed picking in his spare time.
Don was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a longtime member of Mayfair Church of Christ and of Twickenham Church of Christ for the past 18 years. The family is comforted that Don has entered his eternal home and has received God’s grace in heaven.
Don is survived by his wife of 55 years and the love of his life, Lyn Pryor; daughter, Patti Robinson (Mark) of Vestavia Hills and their children, Kelsie Robinson Sapp (Joel) and Lindsay Robinson; son, Mike Pryor (Susan) of Huntsville and their children, Melanie and Jake Pryor; sisters, Ruth Weaver of Titusville, FL and Rose Arrants of Blountville, TN; and brother, William Pryor (Rosemary) of Knoxville. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Martha Jim Roberts and Emmalyn Pryor.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, with the funeral service immediately following in the chapel. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. (www.laughlinservice.com)
The family would also like to thank his loving caregiver.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hacienda of Hope (Ecuador mission), c/o Twickenham Church of Christ (www.twickenham.org).
