Henry E. Prentiss, Jr.
Henry E. Prentiss Jr., 76, long-time resident and past City Councilman of Ketchikan passed away at the Veterans’ Hospital in Phoenix, AZ on February 10, 2001. His ashes were
inturned at Ketchikan on April 28, 2001.
Henry Prentiss, born 10 Nov, 1924 in Brattleboro, VT, began his sea-going life in 1939 at 14 or 15 years old as a merchant seaman on a whaling ship out of Baltimore, MD, before joining the U.S.
Coast Guard early in 1941. During WWII, he served in the American, Pacific, and European Theaters, earning two Purple Hearts and surviving with two others in the water for 11 days after the
sinking of USCGC Bodega off the Yucatan Peninsula. Many an American and Allied soldier owes his life to Mr. Prentiss and his boat crew for pulling them from the surf off Normandy Beach. He
served aboard 25 ships during his nearly 32-year Coast Guard career, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer (RELE-4) at Base Ketchikan in February 1973.
Mr. Prentiss first sampled Alaskan living when he moved his family to Kodiak, where he was stationed on USCGC Bittersweet and USCGC STORIS from late in 1957 until 1959. In 1967, he returned
as head of the Electronics Repair Shop at Base Ketchikan, his family living on Front Street for a year before moving to Hill Road, where they lived for 33 years. Henry was an active member
of the local chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Sons of Norway, and was Past Commander of the American Legion Post.
After his retirement, Henry was, in turn, an Alaska Marine Highway crewman, a school-bus driver, tour-bus driver, and City Councilman. A long-time Ham Radio Operator, he received several
letters of commendation for the countless hours he spent helping others in need and even taught radio practices, electronics, and Morse code to future amateur radio operators.
Before his health failed, he enjoyed bowling, singing and playing his guitar for the family, as well as hunting and fishing all over Southeast Alaska. In addition, he loved jumping in his
car, hopping on a ferry, and driving off to sightsee in central and western Canada and the lower 48, going as far as the east coast to visit old friends and relatives.
Mr. Prentiss was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Louise Prentiss and his daughter, Virginia G. Prentiss, both of Ketchikan. He is survived by his brother, James L Prentiss of
Damascus, MD; his sister, Eleanor Prichard of Silver Spring, MD; his second wife, Georgia (Marty) Prentiss of Golden Valley, AZ; and his children; Norma L. Creamer of Sitka, Rebecca J.
Mahle of Kodiak, Warren E. Booth of Auburn, WA, Gladys M. Panama of Ketchikan, Bonnie S. Murphy of Ackerman, MS, and James R. Prentiss of Warren, PA; as well as his 21 grand- and great-grand
children.
05/23/01 Submitted by: EMCM Warren E. Booth USCG(Ret)
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