George Lee Pritchard

Published 2:31 pm Thursday, July 22, 2010

George Lee Pritchard, of North Augusta, S.C., son of Jacob and Eva Pritchard of Polk County, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 19, 2010, at the age of 82.

His love for music, especially bluegrass, is traced to his youth. Having picked up the fiddle at the age of 9, he spent the rest of his life entertaining audiences across the southeast. Along the way he collected more than 130 trophies, but his finest achievement was winning the Southeastern Fiddle Championship in 1955. George played with some of the top performers of his day including Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. From early in his career with his own group, the Dusty Mountain Boys, to the end of his playing days with the Savannah River Grass, his joy was making music with his friends.

The other great love of his life was his wife, Joan, who preceded him in death in 1998. He worked in radio and TV advertising for most of his career, breaking in with WGUS in North Augusta, S.C., where he spent the bulk of his working life.

He is survived by a sister, Kay Gibbs of Nashville, Tenn., a son, Sparky of Richmond, Va., three granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at McFarland Funeral Chapel in Tryon on Friday, July 23, 2010, at 2 p.m.

The family will receive friends one hour before the service.

Interment will follow the service at Polk Memorial Gardens in Columbus.

An online guest register may be signed at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.