Name: Lester "Gene" Pruitt Date: March 7th, 1933 - February 2nd, 2010 Obituary: Of Laurel, MD, Gene Pruitt, a longtime resident of Laurel, passed away after a brief illness. He was born in Asheville, NC. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Rhoda Arrowood Pruitt, his daughters, Kathy Pruitt Culbreth of Cheverly, Elaine Pruitt of Laurel, son Sidney J. Pruitt of Conowingo, grandchildren Michael Culbreth, Jennifer Westerfield, Patricia and Samantha Pruitt, Barbosa and two great granddaughters and one great grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney L. and Beulah Smith Pruitt and his son, David Eugene Pruitt. Gene was a 1956 graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School in Asheville, NC. After serving a tour of duty in the United States Army he served as an Asheville City Police Officer before moving to the Washington, DC area, working for the DC Transit and later for Metro. He retired from Metro in June, 2002. The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 4, 2010 from 4 to 7pm at GASCH'S FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 4739 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD, where a service will be held at 6:30pm. Burial will be private at Cheltenham Veteran's Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD. Visitations: 4:00PM to 7:00PM on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at Gasch's Funeral Home, P.A. (map/driving directions) Services: 6:30PM at Gasch's Funeral Home, P.A. on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 (map/driving directions) Cemetery: Cremation , (map/driving directions)