Walter Pray, Longtime Educator in the County, Dies at Age 77

Walter J. Pray, a longtime local educator and a founding member of the St. Jude Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Board of Trustees, died Thursday. He was 77.

Pray began his Orange County teaching career in 1946, providing instruction in American history and public speaking at Fullerton High School and Fullerton Junior College.

In 1953, he was named principal of the new La Habra High School and seven years later assumed the post of assistant superintendent for personnel at Fullerton Union High School and Junior College District.

When the North Orange County Community College District was formed in 1966 to serve the Anaheim, Cypress, Fullerton and Stanton areas, Pray was appointed vice chancellor for personnel and instruction at both Fullerton and Cypress colleges.

He retired from the college district in 1977 and became the vice president for community affairs at St. Jude Hospital, where he was a founding member of the hospital’s governing and advisory boards.

Winner of numerous local education and civic awards, Pray is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughter, Pamela Wilson of Cornwall, Ct.; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fullerton. Burial will be at Loma Vista Memorial Park. A reception will follow at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Pavilion.

Contributions can be made to the Walter J. Pray Memorial Scholarship Foundation, North Orange County Community College District, 1000 N. Lemon St., Fullerton, 92632.