20061125 Jack Price Feb. 2, 1920 to Nov. 15, 2006 is going home

Jack Price Feb. 2, 1920 to Nov. 15, 2006 is going home

November 25th, 2006

Jack Price, a local sheep farmer, community leader and horticulturist, passed away on November 15th, 2006. He’s going home.

I attended his memorial service this morning, along with hundreds of Carroll County community leaders, farmers and fellow church members.

Unfortunately, I do not know who took the photo above, but it is so moving and so – Mr. Price.

Please see Carrie Knauer’s May 14th, 2004 article on Mr. Price: “20040514 Jack Price Gardening A late-found love by Carrie Knauer.”

In my forward to her article that I have posted on “Soundtrack,” I wrote:

Another in a great series of articles by Carrie Knauer, who writes for the Carroll County Times. I grew up in Westminster United Methodist Church at the intersection of Main and Center Street; Jack Price’s adopted church, when he first came to Westminster in 1963 and started sheep farming. He was very helpful with my 4-H photography projects and even my rabbit projects in the 1960s. Some of my earliest photographs are of Mr. Price’s farm around 1967. Later in life when I started my landscape business, Mr. Price was one of my biggest supporters and fans.

I will probably have Mr. Price be the focus of next Westminster Eagle opinion column. For now, the obituary in the Carroll County Times read:

Fred H. 'Jack' Price Jr., 86, of Westminster

Carroll County Times Obituaries for Thursday, November 16, 2006

Fred H. "Jack" Price Jr., 86, of Westminster died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, at his home after a brief illness.

Born on Feb. 2, 1920, in rural western North Carolina, he was the son of the late Rev. Fred H. and Amy Helms Price. He was the husband of the late Ollie Price, his wife of 54 years.

He graduated from North Carolina State University in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics and a minor in animal husbandry. He was active in the YMCA, the debating team, the livestock judging team, and a member of Alpha Zeta.

After a short time as Assistant county agent in Iredell County, N.C., he enlisted in the Navy Air Corps and served as a transport pilot during World War II.

Following the war, he and his wife relocated in Maryland where he worked on livestock farms. In 1963, they settled in Westminster, where he developed a large flock of registered Hampshire sheep. He enjoyed showing his sheep at fairs and sales and using his Border Collie dogs to help handle the sheep on the farm.

He retired from farming in 1992 and built his current home in Westminster on his farm property. He enjoyed perennial flower gardening and landscaped the gardens around his home.

Surviving is devoted friend Joyce L. Brown, his partner for eight years.

He was predeceased by his sister Ann.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Westminster United Methodist Church, 162 E. Main St., Westminster, with the Rev. David Highfield and longtime friend Dr. Ira Zepp officiating. Interment will be private.

There will be no public visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Carroll Hospice, 95 Carroll St., Westminster, MD 21157.

Arrangements are by Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster.

####