Our father, Victor Prescott, peacefully passed away in his sleep on Aug. 17, 2014 at the San Juan Island home of his son and daughter-law, Rick and Torrey Prescott, where he had lived for the past three years.
Born in Los Angeles on Dec. 4, 1922, Victor spent his 91 years full of curiosity about the world around him. He shared his excitement about science, math, history and ideas with his children, Viki, Rick, Larry and Colleen, and he instilled in each a dedication to learning throughout life.
He often said to each one, “I love you more than you’ll ever know.” The truth is we did know, and he gave us rich lives full of childhood experiences that have shaped each one of us and his seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren with another on the way.
In addition to being a wonderful father, Victor, was a World War II veteran. He piloted a B-17G, one of the famous Flying Fortresses. Based in southern Italy, he flew missions to destroy Nazi supply lines, ammunition depots, and oil refineries. Early on in his service, his plane was hit by anti-aircraft flack and crash landed in Hungary. All the crew survived and shortly after their return to the air base, they resumed flying until the end of the war. He also volunteered to fly on the final heavy bombardment of Berlin, a mission that was deemed so dangerous that the U.S. Army Air Corps only accepted volunteers. He was decorated for that mission and received a presidential citation. In 1951-52 he was called up from the National Guard reserves to serve again in Germany, where he was a communications specialist and pilot.
In civilian life, Victor had a long and varied career with Pacific Telephone in the Los Angeles area. He started as a lineman and retired after having spent many years in management and engineering. After retirement, Victor and Teresa moved to Orcas Island, where he served on the Olga water board along with his good friend, David Sofaer. He was also active in the building of St. Francis Catholic Church on Orcas.
Victor was predeceased by his first wife Gwendolyn in 1963, son Larry in 1970, and by his second wife Teresa in 1995. He always said he had been so lucky to have had two wonderful marriages. And we are so grateful to have had such an amazing father, grandfather and great-grandfather
Victor’s funeral will be held at St. Francis Catholic Church in Friday Harbor on August 21 at 11 a.m.
Burial will follow at the Catholic Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest next to his wife, Teresa.
