William T. Prater age 68 of Hillsboro died Saturday, December 31, 2011 at the Halifax Health Hospice Center in Orange City, Florida. He was born June 19, 1943 in Steubenville, Ohio the son of the late William and Jaunita Hileman Prater and was raised by Lewis and Anna Prater Borden who were "Mom" and "Dad". Bill was a licensed funeral director and embalmer and had owned and operated the Prater Funeral Home in Leesburg, Ohio for twenty years. He had also served as a Highland County Deputy Sheriff for twenty-six years, had worked as a licensed x-ray technician at Fayette Memorial Hospital in Washington Court House and was an EMT instrumental in the formation of the original Life Squad in the Leesburg area. He was a graduate of Hillsboro High School, the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and was a member of the Leesburg Lodge #78 F&AM and the Leesburg Eastern Star Chapter #57 for over twenty-five years. He is survived by his wife, Lora Ihle Prater whom he had married on August 19, 1967 in Monroe, Ohio, one son, B. G. (Shannon) Prater of Hillsboro, two granddaughters, Kayla Kelley and Kortney Prater, two great granddaughters, Jayda Talbot and Emmalynn Kelley, three sisters, Peggy Shaal of Ohio, Barbara Carlson of Sabina, Betty Barber of Mt. Orab, three half-sisters, Nancy Adkins of Hillsboro, Sandra Prater of Hillsboro, Bonnie Shaffer of Columbus and one half-brother, David Prater of Hillsboro. A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held Sunday, January 15th at the Turner Funeral Home (formerly the Prater Funeral Home) in Leesburg. Family and Friends are invited to attend the Leesburg Masonic Lodge Memorial Service at 3:00 p.m. followed immediately by the Celebration of Life officiated by Michael Evans and David Dillon. The family will receive friends on Sunday prior to the services from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home. For more information or to send condolences to the family please visit www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc
Lora, My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow. Keep those dear memories close to your heart. Janie
Lara, I am so sorry to hear of Bills' passing. Bill was always like a brother to me growing up in Hillsboro and throughout our school years and was still thought of that way even though we had not seen each other for several years. Bill went to school in Cincinnati and I into the military. I think due to our both having busy lives we just fell out of touch over the years. Bill will surly be missed by all that ever came in contact with him. I know I will miss the man that was truly a brother to me. Due to family illness I will not be able to be with you Sunday, January 15th. I will be thinking of everyone and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers always. Mike
Lara, I am so sorry to hear of Bills' passing. Bill was always like a brother to me growing up in Hillsboro and throughout our school years and was still thought of that way even though we had not seen each other for several years. Bill went to school in Cincinnati and I into the military. I think due to our both having busy lives we just fell out of touch over the years. Bill will surly be missed by all that ever came in contact with him. I know I will miss the man that was truly a brother to me. Due to family illness I will not be able to be with you Sunday, January 15th. I will be thinking of everyone and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers always. Mike
TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MANY CARING THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU, TODAY AND EVERY DAY.
Lora, Not suprised, but shocked and saddened to here the news. Bill was so upbeat with just having one test left when I saw the two of you a few weeks ago.I and alot of the staff at Frisch's will miss good old Willy. Are thoughts and prayers are with you. Bill Polley
Lora, I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your best friend of 44yrs. Remember he is in no pain and we will all meet again. You are in my prayers. Paula
Lora and Family, May it help to know others are thinking of you at this time of sorrow.
Lora, I am so sorry that you lost Bill. I always enjoyed working with you and Bill. Many times I have wondered where and how you were. At a time like this no one knows how you feel and words are appreciated but they can't bring Bill back. I know I lost Danny May 4,2010. It's hard especially when two people have been together the years you and Bill have been like Danny and I. Thinking of you, Ferri Wolford
I am so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. We went to school together. He will be missed. May God's peace be with you and your family.
On behalf of the members of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, Southeast Region, please accept our sympathy for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
We send our sympathy to Bill's family. God bless Lora, B.G., Kayla Kelley, Kortney, Jayda and Emmalynn, Peggy, Barbara,Betty and their families. Bill was a good person and hard worker, caring for families that needed help in troubled times. Take good care, stay safe and God bless, Beverly & Donald (graduates of CCMS) Beverly from Russellvill,OH and niece of the late Dorothy Winters
Lora we are so sorry to here about your lose. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.May God Bless in this time in your life.
Lora and Family, I am so sorry to hear about Bill, working with Bill at the Sheriff's office was always a good time, it was great when Sgt. Prater was on my shift, I will miss him. I can not be in Ohio on the 15th, but my thoughs and prayers will be with you and your family. Keith
Lora & Family... Please accept our deepest sympathy on Bill's passing. With the number of years Bill served with the Sheriff's Dept, there wasn't a soul who didn't know Bill, but who also appreciated his sense of fairness in dealing with the public. We pray the best of memories will bring all of you great comfort and peace in the trying days ahead. Leslie Ramsey & Family
Lora , Donnie McCoy called and told me about Bill , you have my deepest sympathy . I will always remember how helpful and how good he was to me when " Bud " died nearly 25 years ago . I also think of what good neighbors you both were to Aunt Martha and Aunt Cora .
Lora, I was so sorry to hear about Bill. What fun times we had together so many years ago. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I am out of town, but will get your contact info and be in touch. Debbie
LORA, SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR LOSS,YOUR IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!
LORA SORRY FOR YOUR LOST BILL WAS A GREAT GUY AND HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE AND A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.
Dear Lori, I was both shocked and saddened to learn of Bill's death. I'm ritired from The Dodge Company as a salesman selling embalming chemicals. I called on Bill for several years. My thoughts are with you. David
B.G. and family. My prayers are with you all. Cathy Stubbs Cope