Obituary

Glenville Keith Pritt of Kanawha City passed away on November 9, 2024, after suffering complications from a fall.

Keith Pritt was born on September 16, 1935, in Charleston, WV, to Densil and Dorothy Pritt. Keith’s life was marked by his love for his family, friends, teammates, and those many athletes that he coached over the years. He was an elder in the Belle Presbyterian Church and served his church well, until he was unable due to his beloved wife Dora’s health and then his own health issues. Keith did not shout his faith from the mountain top, but those that really knew him knew him as a Godly man.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of over 50 years, Dora; his parents; his brothers, Kenneth and his wife Dot, Bert and his wife Joretta, Johnny, and Ronnie; his sister, Connie Ghee and her husband Bill, and his sister, Bonnie Massey and her husband James.

Those left to celebrate his earthly life are his son, John Pritt (Lynnlee); his daughter, Patti Dodson and her husband, Keith’s favorite son-in-law, Denny; his very much loved grandchildren, Sophia, Sarah, Shaena, Will, and EJ; his brother, Hugh and wife Peggy, and sister-in-law, Peggy Pritt Cooley. He also leaves many nieces and nephews that all meant so much to him.

Keith graduated from Dupont High School in 1953 where he was captain of the football team. He then took his football skills to Glenville State College where he excelled and was named ‘team captain,’ as well as receiving ‘all conference’ honors. Upon his graduation, Keith returned home and taught and coached at Dupont Junior High School, where his star quarterback was Gary Marcum who later became one of his lifelong friends. Soon after, Keith was hired as an assistant football coach at Charleston High and had much success including three consecutive Triple A State Championships.

Coach Pritt was also the head track and head wrestling team coach at CHS. His track teams won the state championship three times with him being named ‘coach of the year’ at least twice. During his coaching career, he also taught physical education and driver’s education. After many years at CHS, he moved on to the Board of Education and was the Director of the county-wide physical education programs. He then became the vice-principal at Herbert Hoover High School, then was named the principal, the last principal of Roosevelt Junior High School. Keith then retired from the school system, but he continued working, first as the Director of the City of Charleston Parks and Recreation Department, after that he accepted an appointment from Governor Bob Wise as the spokesperson for the WV DNR.

While Keith was teaching and coaching with his various positions with the school system, he was also involved with community endeavors. In 1976, he worked closely with Mike Tyson to prepare him for the Olympic trials. Mike would have qualified. but then pulled up lame with an injury in the last qualifying race while in second place at the time. Another venture for Keith was starting the first track team for the University of Charleston with an emphasis on “speed training.” On top of everything else, Coach Pritt won two National Championships as the coach for the WV Rockets and the WV Lightning, motivating Major Harris to “do his thing “ and lead them to victory. One of the highlights of Keith’s sports career was the induction into The Glenville State College Athletic Hall of Fame, and the WV Sports Legends Hall of Fame.

Keith lived the good life and fought the good fight. He said that he was a lot like his mother and would never turn down a good fight. Remember Keith as a good husband, father, grandfather, uncle, in-law, and friend. Please enjoy his stories, his pranks, his teaching, his coaching, and his love.
His family would like to express the utmost appreciation to the staff on the CAMC General 5-S Trauma Step Down Unit, as well as the kindness of the staff at the Hubbard Hospice House for taking care of Keith during his last days.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Belle Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Denny Dodson presiding.

Visitation will begin two hours prior at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations, if desired, are requested to be made to Kanawha Hospice Care, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25387 or Belle Presbyterian Church, 407 E. 7th Street, Belle, WV 25015.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com .

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, WV, has been entrusted with the arrangements.