Bennett "Ben" Monroe Pritchard

Bennett "Ben" Monroe Pritchard, 79, of Morganton, NC died Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Born in Burke County, NC on March 24, 1935, he was the son of the late Harrison A. Pritchard, Sr. and Esther Ethel Bean Pritchard. Ben was a former member of Riverside Baptist Church and worked as a timber cutter. He enjoyed the outdoors.A loving husband, brother, and uncle, Ben is survived by his wife of 48 years, Edith Chapman Pritchard of the home; a son, Cling Roberts of the home; sisters, Martha Orders and Virginia Engle, both of Morganton; and a number of nephews and nieces, great-nephews and nieces, and great-great-nieces.In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by four brothers, Harrison Pritchard, Jr., Howard Pritchard, Warren Pritchard, and Leonard Pritchard; four sisters, Vonnie Michaels, Catherine Crawley, Betty Norman, and Pauline Robinson; and three infant sisters.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 30, 2014 at Riverside Baptist Church with Mr. Steve Michaels and the Rev. Jeff Boone officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. At other times the family will be at the residence of the sister, Virginia Engle, on Moose Lodge Street, Morganton. Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.