John E Pruniski, Jr.

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Visitation Schedule
Roller-Owens Funeral Home
5509 J.F.K. Blvd
North Little Rock, AR  72116
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
5-6 P.M.
Service Schedule
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
19th & Maple
North Little Rock, AR  72114
Thursday, July 8, 2004
10:00 a.m.
Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery
Little Rock, AR  72206
John E Pruniski, Jr.

of Little Rock, AR

November 8, 1915 - July 5, 2004

John E. Pruniski, Jr., age 88, former editor of the North Little Rock Times died July 5, 2004, in Little Rock.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty Henriksen Pruniski, a son, John E. Pruniski, III (wife Mary Jane), daughter, Ann Parker (husband Don) three grandsons, Brian J. Pruniski, Jeremy M. Colburn, ( wife Stacy), and Jeffrey M. Pruniski and one great- granddaughter, Irene Olivia Colburn.

Born in North Little Rock, he was the son of John E. Pruniski Sr. and Amy Holmes Pruniski. His father, long-time publisher of the North Little Rock Times, was for many years chairman of the Pulaski County Election Commission and had served in many other civic capacities. His mother, a leader among Catholic lay women in Arkansas, was named winner of the first Diocesan Service Award by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher in 1971. An uncle, Max J. Pruniski, was the pioneer motion picture theater owner in North Little Rock.

Following the sale of the newspaper in 1958 to M. S. McCord and Robert McCord, he operated the Times Printing Company in North Little Rock and later was president of Times Union Printing Co., located in the old Park Plaza Center in Little Rock. In retirement he was an occasional contributor to the Forum page of the Arkansas Gazette.

One of his editorials in the North Little Rock Times received wide circulation when it was quoted in a wire service story written by national reporter Bob Considine, while in Little Rock to cover the school integration crisis. The editorial deplored the violence which followed the attempt to desegregate Little Rock Senior High School in1957 and was quoted in newspapers around the nation and in other parts of the world. On another occasion, an article which he wrote concerning world peace was inserted in the Congressional Record by Congressman Brooks Hays.

In World War II, he was the first of only two Arkansans to join the American Field Service as a volunteer ambulance driver. He served with the British, New Zealand, Canadian and Indian Armies in Lebanon, Syria, North Africa, and Italy. His AFS unit was attached to the British Eighth Army when General Montgomery's forces defeated the Germans in North Africa.

In the final months of World War II he was associated with the National Catholic Community Service in the USO program, with assignments in Mobile, AL., Panama City, FL. and New York City. While living in North Little Rock he was member of the Board of Wardens of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He also served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of The Guardian, the Catholic diocesan newspaper, now known as Arkansas Catholic. For two years immediately following World War II he was a part-time instructor at Little Rock Catholic High School.

He was a charter member of the North Little Rock Kiwanis Club and served for several years as its first secretary. He was also a member and secretary of the Board of Directors of the North Little Rock Boys Club.

Before joining the AFS he was a member of the staff of Secretary of State C. G. Hall. He attended Little Rock Junior College, now UALR, and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Funeral service will be held 10:00A. M., Thursday, July 8, 2004, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, North Little Rock, with interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Little Rock.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00P.M., Wednesday, at Roller-Owens Funeral Home in North Little Rock (791-7400). Rosary will be observed at 6:00P.M. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Patrick's School Endowment Fund. To Sign our online guestbook go to www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens

John E. Pruniski, Jr., age 88, former editor of the North Little Rock Times died July 5, 2004, in Little Rock.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty Henriksen Pruniski, a son, John E. Pruniski, III (wife Mary Jane), daughter, Ann Parker (husband Don) three grandsons, Brian J. Pruniski, Jeremy M. Colburn, ( wife Stacy), and Jeffrey M. Pruniski and one great- granddaughter, Irene Olivia Colburn.

Born in North Little Rock, he was the son of John E. Pruniski Sr. and Amy Holmes Pruniski. His father, long-time publisher of the North Little Rock Times, was for many years chairman of the Pulaski County Election Commission and had served in many other civic capacities. His mother, a leader among Catholic lay women in Arkansas, was named winner of the first Diocesan Service Award by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher in 1971. An uncle, Max J. Pruniski, was the pioneer motion picture theater owner in North Little Rock.

Following the sale of the newspaper in 1958 to M. S. McCord and Robert McCord, he operated the Times Printing Company in North Little Rock and later was president of Times Union Printing Co., located in the old Park Plaza Center in Little Rock. In retirement he was an occasional contributor to the Forum page of the Arkansas Gazette.

One of his editorials in the North Little Rock Times received wide circulation when it was quoted in a wire service story written by national reporter Bob Considine, while in Little Rock to cover the school integration crisis. The editorial deplored the violence which followed the attempt to desegregate Little Rock Senior High School in1957 and was quoted in newspapers around the nation and in other parts of the world. On another occasion, an article which he wrote concerning world peace was inserted in the Congressional Record by Congressman Brooks Hays.

In World War II, he was the first of only two Arkansans to join the American Field Service as a volunteer ambulance driver. He served with the British, New Zealand, Canadian and Indian Armies in Lebanon, Syria, North Africa, and Italy. His AFS unit was attached to the British Eighth Army when General Montgomery's forces defeated the Germans in North Africa.

In the final months of World War II he was associated with the National Catholic Community Service in the USO program, with assignments in Mobile, AL., Panama City, FL. and New York City. While living in North Little Rock he was member of the Board of Wardens of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He also served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of The Guardian, the Catholic diocesan newspaper, now known as Arkansas Catholic. For two years immediately following World War II he was a part-time instructor at Little Rock Catholic High School.

He was a charter member of the North Little Rock Kiwanis Club and served for several years as its first secretary. He was also a member and secretary of the Board of Directors of the North Little Rock Boys Club.

Before joining the AFS he was a member of the staff of Secretary of State C. G. Hall. He attended Little Rock Junior College, now UALR, and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Funeral service will be held 10:00A. M., Thursday, July 8, 2004, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, North Little Rock, with interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Little Rock.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00P.M., Wednesday, at Roller-Owens Funeral Home in North Little Rock (791-7400). Rosary will be observed at 6:00P.M. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Patrick's School Endowment Fund. To Sign our online guestbook go to www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens


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1 Condolence(s)
Dave Trigilio
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Wednesday, July 7, 2004

Ann, Jack, and Mary Jane I was sorry to read about your Dad today. He was a great guy and I know he meant a lot to all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Dave