John Prugh

Dr. John Drew Prugh passed away in his home in Woodway, Texas on Monday, June 1, 2015. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sally Wing (Grove) Prugh; a brother, Geary Lee Prugh of Casper, Wyoming; sons John M. Prugh of New Hampshire and Scott M. Prugh of Texas, and a daughter, Lynne A. Housley of Georgia; five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Marlo “Gene” Prugh.
John was born in Greybull, WY on December 18, 1932, to the late Merle G. Prugh and Helen A. Wamhoff, of Casper, WY. He was the nephew of the late John “Drew” Prugh, also of Greybull.
John attended the University of Colorado from 1951 through 1954 majoring in Chemistry and Biology and was a member of the Acacia Fraternity. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy with Honors. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Washington in 1964 and then completed a two year post-doctoral fellowship with Professor K. B. Wiberg at Yale University.
John was a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon (Chemistry Honorary), Rho Chi (Pharmacy Honorary), and Sigma Xi. He was a teaching fellow from 1959 to 1960 and a Research Fellow from 1960 to 1964 at the University of Washington. He was a Fellow of the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education and Josiah Kirby Lilly Memorial Fellow from 1964 through 1966 at the University of Washington.
John published 21 papers and was awarded numerous patents in Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry while working at Merck Research Laboratories in West Point, PA as a medicinal chemist from 1966 through his retirement in 1996.
He was a Member of the American Chemical Society (Organic and Medicinal Chemistry Divisions) and the Philadelphia Organic Chemists Club.
John served in the US Army from 1954 to 1956. An accomplished musician, he played in his father’s band while in high school and was a soloist and choir member in numerous churches. He was an avid gardener, fly fisherman, photographer and artist. He loved woodworking, having made several family heirloom pieces, and travelling throughout the United States and Europe.
Grace Gardens Funeral Home & Crematorium, 8220 Woodway Drive in Waco, TX is in charge of the arrangements. Interment will be private at Beulah Cemetery in New Britain, PA