Jack Alva Prentice was born in Norfolk, Virginia on 9 December 1933 to Rena Virginia (Morris) Prentice and Howard Ray Prentice. Jack spent his youth growing up in Norfolk. Due to Jack’s father’s sudden death, Jack lived for a few years at the Turney Home for Boys while his mother worked as a nurse. Jack, his sister Shirley Ann, and mother eventually moved into an apartment and Jack got a part-time job working for Arno’s Grocery Store. Jack enjoyed music and played the Trumpet in middle school and the French horn in high school.

Jack graduated from Maury High School in 1951 and immediately upon graduation began an electrical wiring apprenticeship. In 1955, Jack decided to enlist in the United States Air Force. He attended Basic Training at Sampson, AFB in New York state and was followed by an Aviation Maintenance Technical School at Sheppard, AFB in Texas. Jack then requested an assignment to Japan. While in Japan, Jack repaired military aircraft at Matsushima AB, Itami AB, and Yokota AB. While at Itami, Jack met the love of his life, Hiroko (Susie). They were married and had a daughter, Patricia while stationed in Japan.

In 1960, The family moved to Otis, AFB in Falmouth, Massachusetts where Jack worked the Control Room and had a part-time job sacking groceries at the base commissary and during his downtime thoroughly enjoyed bass fishing with friends and family. Jack was then sent to Sheppard, AFB to cross-train into Missile Maintenance for the Titan ICBM missile program. During his stay at Sheppard, Jack and Susie had a son, Charles. Jack was then assigned to Davis Monthan, AFB as a missile maintenance technician. Jack spent a year deployed at Phan Rang, AB in Vietnam and returned to Davis Monthan following his deployment. Following Jack’s Arizona assignment, Jack was stationed in Minot, North Dakota in the Missile Maintenance squadron. Jack had one final assignment to Seymour Johnson, AFB in Goldsboro, NC where he was the supervisor for a SRAM missile maintenance squadron. While at Seymour, Jack had a part-time job working as a projectionist at the base theater.

Jack retired from the military with full honors in February 1980. He attended Wayne Community College after retirement and eventually was employed by APV Baker as a quality control inspector. Jack finally retired from civilian employment in 1995. Jack spent his retirement growing a yearly garden, adopting stray cats and dogs, tinkering with electronic equipment (he was a Mr. Fix-it), making trips to Busch Gardens to ride the roller coasters and eat soft-serve ice cream, spending time with his grandchildren, and going to the coast for an occasional fishing trip. Jack never met a stranger and was always thrilled to run into military members he had been assigned with throughout the years.

Jack and Susie were long-time members of Goldsboro Wesleyan Church and eventually Garris Chapel Church. In 2024, Jack and Susie moved to Waynesville, NC to live with their daughter Patricia and family. Jack peacefully died at home surrounded by his family.

Jack is survived by his wife of 69 years, Susie, his daughter Patricia Austin (Joseph-deceased), and Son, Charles (Molly). His grandchildren Katherine Watkins (Erik), Emily Austin (Chris), Sarah Hinson, and Tori Hinson and his great grandchildren Sophia Watkins and Luke Watkins.

Jack is preceded in death by his father Howard Ray Prentice, mother Rena Prentice Nesbit, sister Shirley Ann Wright, and his son-in-law Joseph Eugene Austin Jr.

A private family service will be held at a later date.  

The care of Mr. Prentice has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.