Dates
Eli William “Bill” Prater, Jr., beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend passed away peacefully on May 9th, 2018.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, May 16th at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in San Angelo. Visitation will be 6-8 pm on Tuesday, May 15th at Harper Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the West Texas Physical Rehabilitation (Texas Rehab) Center: 3001 S Jackson St, San Angelo, TX 76904 or the TCU Frog Club: TCU Box 297140, Ft Worth, TX 76129
Bill was born on February 13, 1926 in Mansfield, Texas to Bill and Wallace (Adams) Prater and grew up in Alvarado, Texas, graduating from Alvarado High School in 1942. He served in the US Navy in WWII until 1946 on the USS Montpelier and received the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Star, Philippine Liberation, American Campaign and Victory Medals.
After military service, Bill attended TCU where he met Peggy Jo Trammel of San Angelo. They married in 1949 and graduated in 1950. Bill and Peggy raised their family in Fort Worth where Bill had a long career with General Dynamics. Upon retirement in 1990, they returned to San Angelo to enjoy friends and family and Bill remained after Peggy’s death in 1994.
Bill loved all sports, was an avid golfer, and enjoyed being with his golfing buddies. He was devoted to his TCU Horned Frogs, rarely missing a football game since the 1950s. Bill spent summers in Ruidoso enjoying his many friends. Bill treasured time spent with his dear friend, Sony. She brought love and joy to his life for many years. He was a longtime member and devoted lay reader at Emmanuel Episcopal.
Bill is survived by his sons, David and wife, Andrea, and Paul and wife, Sally, of Fort Worth and daughter Brenda Drgac and husband, Gary, of McCamey. He was Granddaddy to grandchildren, Kellsy Drgac, Brett and Eli Prater III, Paige Prater Casey and husband, Reagan, and Mallory Prater Lummis and husband, Palmer, and great grandchildren Hayes and Council Casey and Palmer and Will Lummis. Bill is also survived by brother in law, Howard Haby and wife, Marilyn and son, Hunter, of San Angelo and special friend, Sony Roethemeyer of Odessa, Texas.