Robert Louis Pryatel Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

It is with great sadness to announce that Chief Robert Louis "Bobby" Pryatel of Corning, CA, has been called home. He passed away peacefully with his daughters by his side, on April 26, 2022, at his home in Corning, CA. He was a giant of a man in both stature and spirit which will not soon be forgotten. Bobby was born on October 4, 1943, to Louis Pryatel and Bernardine McKenna at St. Elizabeth's in Red Bluff, CA. He was raised in Corning, CA, where he spent the rest of his life dedicated to his family and community. As a youth, Bobby was a paperboy at the local paper, the Corning Observer, and then as a teenager first volunteered at the Corning Volunteer Fire Department - before he was even actually recognized as fully fledged volunteer fireman. Upon graduation from Corning High, he went to work at the Corning Observer as a typesetter and press operator before enlisting in the United States Army in 1965, where he served 2 years under his MOS as Process Photographer at the Army Field Printing Plant in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Bobby was honorably discharged from the Army in 1967, achieving the rank of Specialist SP4 (T). He returned to Corning where he became the pressman and production manager at the Corning Observer. It was here that his life changed forever when he met his soulmate, Betty Pryatel. They cherished each other and their children for the rest of their lives and beyond. It was on October 7, 1970, that Bobby became an official Corning City Volunteer Firefighter, a position he held while also working at the Corning Observer for 17 years. After years of steadily moving up the ranks of the fire department including that of Captain, 2nd, and 1st Assistant Chief, on January 7, 1987, he became the first paid Fire Chief for the City of Corning - a title and responsibility he carried out with the highest level of professionalism and distinction for 21 years culminating in his retirement on July 3, 2008. As a testament to his level of integrity and exemplary tenure as Chief, he received a special commendation from the California State Legislature upon his retirement. The only thing overshadowed by his service record and commitment to the community was the love of his family. There was nothing more important in the world to Bobby than his beloved wife Betty, his children and extended family, and their well-being. He was one of those rare individuals that something about him people were just drawn to and respected - perhaps it was his no-nonsense, get it done attitude tempered by his laughter and kind and gracious soul. His level of loyalty and relentless dedication to his family and the citizens of the City of Corning was unrivaled. Bobby was actively involved in his community and initiated many improvements within the fire department that permeate to this day - he was also awarded the prestigious departmental "AHOTY" award multiple times, a feat not easily earned. Bobby's spirit and legacy live on in the lives he touched and will never be extinguished. Bobby is survived by his children, countless grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren, sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins who all loved him dearly and each have been blessed by his imprint left on their lives. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chief Bobby's beloved Corning Volunteer Fire Department.

Robert Louis Pryatel

October 4, 1943 - April 26, 2022

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Robert Louis Pryatel

October 4, 1943 - April 26, 2022

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