CAMDEN - Henry Charles Prichard, 87, of Camden, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, in Kent General Hospital after a short illness. Henry was born March 16, 1924, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., the son of the late Harry D. and Lauretta Prichard of Kingston, Pa. He married his high school sweetheart, Louise, on Feb. 12, 1944. They recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. Henry grew up in Kingston, Pa., and graduated from Kingston High School in 1942. Within weeks of his graduation he entered the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II and until 1946. He was a Signalman 3rd Class aboard the USS Betelgeuse, an Arcturus-class attack cargo ship, which earned six battle stars for her World War II service. He remained in close contact with many of his Navy buddies and became chair of the reunion committee, organizing annual reunions around the country, most recently in October of 2011, for remaining crewmembers who had served on the Betelgeuse. After his discharge from the Navy, he continued his education at East Stroudsburg State Teachers College and received his B.S. in Education in 1951. He continued his life-long learning in graduate studies at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, State University of New York at Plattsburg in New York, and American University in Washington, D.C. He began his first teaching job just two weeks after graduation in Delaware, N.J., in a three-room schoolhouse, where he taught grades 4 through 8 in the same classroom. He continued working as an educator in New Jersey in Independence Township, where he was a teacher and principal, Washington Township, where he was a teacher, principal, and superintendent, and Randolph Township, where he was a principal. During his years as a teacher in New Jersey, he supplemented the family income with a variety of part-time and summer jobs including in a grocery store and as a truck driver, a bartender, a carpenter, and even a Fuller Brush Man. In 1965 he and his family moved to Montgomery County, Md., where he returned to teaching in elementary schools until his retirement in 1985. After retirement, he and his wife relocated to Ocean View, and ultimately to Camden in 2006. Henry was noted to have an acute, retentive memory undiminished with age. He enjoyed traveling. He was an aficionado of jazz music and accumulated quite a collection of big band and 40s, 50s, and 60s jazz music. He was also an avid reader. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Hackettstown, N.J., and recently received recognition for 50 years' membership. He was also a Deacon in the Ocean View Presbyterian Church in Ocean View. Henry was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Robert Prichard of Augusta, Ga.; and two nephews. He is survived by his wife, Louise; son, Todd Prichard of Fairfield, Pa.; son, Grant Prichard and his wife Maurine of Dover; daughter, Tracy Surguy of Wyoming, Del.; grandchildren, Bethany Amos and her husband David of Dover, Jesse Fritts of San Francisco, Calif., Bryce Prichard of Denver, Colo., Spenser Prichard of Dover, and Benjamin Surguy of Dover; as well as a nephew and two nieces. A memorial service will be held for family and friends on Saturday, March 3, 2012, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Mr. Prichard may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 North Randolph Street, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203. Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.