Englewood, Florida resident and Warren County native Ted Riley “Teddy” Prater, the son of Theodore and Mildred Prater, both deceased, died Sunday, Feb. 21, at his residence after an eight-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Teddy was born July 23, 1945 in Muncie, Ind. However, shortly following his birth his parents returned to Warren County residing in the Viola community before moving to Morrison when he was 5. Teddy graduated from Morrison High School, where he was an outstanding athlete, and then went on to attend Freed-Hardeman College. Following college, Teddy went to work in the airline industry retiring with Eastern Airlines. Teddy and his wife, Robin Michael, moved to Englewood and, not being satisfied with retirement, he went to work for Sarasota as director over its parks and recreation department where he remained until being forced into mandatory retirement due to Lou Gehrig’s disease.

In addition to his wife, Teddy is survived by two daughters Robin Denise (Marcus) Eason and Jill Cherie (Rod) McArdell, as well as six grandchildren Abigail, Brandon, Julian, Trey, Brooke, Aubrey and six great-grandchildren. Additionally, he is survived by three sisters Amy (Paul) Freeman, Connie (Marion) Turner, and Brenda (Gary) Cope, as well as one aunt, Violet McMahan, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Teddy was a member of Lemon Bay Church of Christ in Englewood, Fla., where a celebration of life will be held. Arrangements for a private family service at Shady Grove Cemetery in Coffee County are incomplete at this time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lou Gehrig Research Foundation, Tidwell Hospice in Englewood, Boyd Christian School, the Gospel Broadcasting Network, or a charity of your choice.

Southern Standard

(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 28, 2021