David Allen Pruitt

David “Dave” Allen Pruitt, 73, of Quincy, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at his home.

Dave was born June 9, 1952, in Quincy to Russell and Vivian (Whitman) Pruitt. He attended Quincy Senior High, graduating in 1970, then went to work in his father’s downtown hardware store. In 1990, he and his wife Cheryl bought the business outright from his father and ran Pruitt Hardware for the next thirty-four years.

Generations of Quincy homeowners knew Dave as the man who’d walk you down the aisle, find the obscure bolt you’d been searching for, and sketch a quick diagram of how to set the trap correctly under your kitchen sink. He retired in 2024 when the store was sold to a longtime employee.

A friend to everyone who walked through the door

Outside the store, Dave was a longtime member of the Quincy Optimist Club, a faithful coach in the Quincy youth soccer league for two decades, and a generous Saturday-morning regular at the Christian Brotherhood House breakfast.

Survived by

Dave is survived by his wife of 49 years, Cheryl (Mueller) Pruitt; two children, Andrew (Jessica) Pruitt of Quincy and Rachel Pruitt Yates of Peoria; five grandchildren; and his brother Mark Pruitt of Chicago. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services

Visitation will be held Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Bennett Funeral Home, 418 Maine Street, Quincy. A funeral service will follow on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Bennett Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Dave’s name may be made to the Christian Brotherhood House or to the Quincy youth soccer league.

The Pruitt family is in the care of Bennett Funeral Home.