William Prater

William Earl "Bill" Prater, age 91 of Foxport, beloved husband to Della Prater for 69 years, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Pioneer Trace Nursing Home. Born October 2, 1926 in Bethel, OH, he was a son of the late John Henry and Maude McElfresh Prater. A WWII Army veteran having served in the Philippines, Bill was a retired mechanic and talented musician. Bill loved woodworking, making instruments and furniture, and playing the fiddle, which many people will remember him for the music he played at square dances. A member of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Foxport, Bill always enjoyed having a good time with his family and friends and enjoyed fishing and ginseng hunting. Besides his wife, he is survived by: a daughter, Sherri (George) Barber of Fayetteville, NC; grandchildren, Jill (Scott) McKee of Hillsboro, Amy Adkins of Crossville, TN, Denise (Trent) Werline of Flemingsburg, Ben Barber of Southern Pines, NC, and Josh Barber of Stockholm, Sweden; great-grandchildren, Erika and Joe Hunt, Bailey and Braydon McKee, Talia and Shada Adkins, Dustin Smith, and Josh and Jake Werline; great-great-grandchildren, Emma Gray, Skyla Stephens, and Raylin Adkins; a sister, Helen (Curly) Lykins of Maysville; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by: a son, Larry Prater; brothers, Willis, Bob, Douglas, Russell, and Harry Prater; and sisters, Opal Sloop, and Mary Mineer. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Saturday, April 21, 2018 in the chapel of Carpenter-Fritz & Vice Funeral Home officiated by Bro. Layne Wagner. Visitation will be 5-8 pm Friday, April 20th at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors performed by the W.N. Fant American Legion Post #5 and the Franklin Sousley VFW Post #1834. Active pallbearers will be Ben Barber, Joe Hunt, Braydon McKee, Dustin Smith, Jake Werline, and Josh Werline. Honorary pallbearers will be Barry Dillon, Ricky Brown, Robert Harmon, George Barber, Scott McKee, Trent Werline, Josh Barber, and Curly Lykins.