Ronnie Allen Pruett

Ronnie Allen Pruett (age 84) passed away gently and peacefully Tuesday evening, 26 July, 2022,at Novant Health Presbyterian Health Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Born 26 April, 1938in Mount Airy, NC, Ronnie led an extraordinary life. His hard work ethic, integrity, honest character, steady drive, insatiable love of learning, and stark independence opened up many doors for him, beginning with part-time work at local WPAQ Radio while a student at Mount Airy High School, an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, a law degree from Columbia University, a year-long stint as a Fulbright scholar in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a 55+ year career in international law divided among Concord, Kannapolis, and Charlotte. His law practice provided him with an opportunity to work with clients from over 123 different countries. Among his most notable clients were Charles A. Cannon and Donnell Holt of the Cannon Mills Company and well-known poet Maya Angelou. Ronnie prided himself on his life-long commitment to serving others, and among his many accolades includes his service as President of the Charlotte World Trade Association and North Carolina World Trade Association, President of Charlotte Rotary, and President of Rotary District Mecklenburg County. During his illustrious career, Ronnie met and interacted with distinguished individuals such as Dale Carnegie, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Richard Holbrook, U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, NC Governor Jim Hunt, and U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Ronnies close friends knew him as an erudite with folksy humility. He was a passionate storyteller, especially of his travels and other remarkable life experiences. Ronnie was a lover of bluegrass, old-time, and classic country music; Southern literature; opera, knowledge; and travel. He played ukulele and harmonica and could perform at least 40 traditional folk tunes on command. He was a Methodist Christian, a Gideon, an Eagle Scout, a gymnast, a veteran, a scuba diver, an archer, a marksman, and a fisherman. He was a voracious reader and a lover of classical music. He spoke fluent English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and he could additionally get around in Arabic and German. He visited most if not all Spanish-speaking countries in the Western hemisphereone of his lifelong goals. He was preceded in death by his mother Vera Pruett and father Woodie Pruett, both of Mount Airy, NC; and his sister Joan Toole of Groveland, Florida. He is survived by his wife Burgl Pruett of 40 years; four children: Wesley Pruett, Steve Pruett, Kathy Pruett Sandifer, and David Pruett; son- in-law Trey Sandifer; daughter-in-law Lian Cui; and nine grandchildren: Weston, Hayden, Elleigh, Bennett, Alexander, Althea, Grace, Benjamin, and Joseph. A celebration-of-life ceremony is forthcoming.