Mr. William Howard Prater Jr., 86, of the Centertown community, died Sunday, Feb. 13, at Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. 

He was born Nov. 6, 1935 in Warren County, was retired as an air craft mechanic with the Tennessee National Guard where he served as a 1st Sergeant, and was a farmer. He spent many years working with his cattle, was a member of the 1155th Transportation Company of the Tennessee National Guard, done some rabbit hunting in his earlier years and enjoyed visiting with his coffee buddies and his friends out at “Knowledge Hill. He was preceded in death by his parents William Howard, Sr. and Mary Edwina Passons Prater. 

Survivors include his wife of over 60 years Ila Mae Warf Prater, sons William H. “Billy” (Carol) Prater III, Stephen Prater, and Keith (Paula) Prater, sister Yvonne (James) Taylor, grandchildren Lindsey (Brandon) Eldridge, Lauren Prater, Cassidy Prater, and Lucas Prater, great grandchildren Carter Eldridge and McKinsley Eldridge, along with several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel with Ray Robinson officiating. Interment will follow at Centertown Cemetery. The Prater family will receive friends Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at McMinnville Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at www.mcminnvillefuneralhome.com.

McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Southern Standard

(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 16, 2022