Carl Pruitt

PRUITT, Carl Stoy (August 17, 2008) at Ruth Lilly Hospice after an extended illness. Born June 4, 1922, Glen Rose, Texas. Dr. Pruitt was a member of the American Legion (Eli Lilly Post 374), serving in WWII in the New Guinea campaign as a combat engineer attached to the 32nd Infantry Division, and in the Philippines with the 15th Army Air Force Air/Sea Rescue Unit. He received the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the American Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. While stationed at McDill Field in Tampa, FL with the 326th Army Air Force Boat Unit, he met and married Frances B. Oliver of Dadeville, AL on November 27, 1946. After discharge from the Army in February of 1947, the couple moved to Nassau in the Bahamas for a year, then to New Orleans, LA. During this time, he was the captain of an ocean-going vessel engaged in offshore oil exploration in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Pruitts moved to Dadeville in the spring of 1950 and Dr. Pruitt enrolled in Auburn University's veterinary medicine program. A member of Alpha Psi Fraternity at Auburn, he also joined the American Veterinary Medical Association. Graduating in ...[more]

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7 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, he worked as a large and small animal vet, and as a USDA poultry inspector in Alabama. He was later employed by Eli Lilly and Company, and performed Lilly-related research at the University of Arkansas for two years before moving to the Lilly home office in Indianapolis. He worked in Lilly's Elanco Division until retirement in 1987. During his career at Lilly, he was an active member of the American Association of Industrial Veterinarians, and served as President of the AAIV in 1968-1969. A lifetime member of the Methodist Church, Dr. Pruitt was a member of Epworth UMC from 1963 until the present. He was an avid golfer, baseball coach, and member of Toastmasters. A world traveler, he visited six continents and all 50 states. Preceded in death by his parents James Carl and Eleanor Katherine and his brother Kenneth, Dr. Pruitt is survived by his wife of 62 years: three sons -- James (wife Karen), Robert (wife Jan), and David (wife Lynn); seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his twin sister Mary Catherine (Mrs. Leon) Shields of Fort Worth, Texas and niece, Becky (Mrs. John) Hettich. A memorial service will be held at Epworth Methodist Church on Thursday, August 21st, with interment at a later date in Dadeville, Alabama. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, donations should be made to the Ruth Lilly Hospice of Clarian Health Partners (1801 N. Capitol Avenue; B Building, 6th Floor, Room 650; Indianpolis, IN 46202) or to Epworth United Methodist Church (6450 Allisonville Road; Indianapolis, IN 46220).