PRATER, William “Lynn”, 90 of Sebring, Florida, died Friday, April 12, 2013 at North Broward Medical Center Hospice House in Deerfield Beach, Florida, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born September 26, 1922 in Edgewood, Illinois to the late William H. And Lula Kincaid Prater. He attended school through his 2nd year of high school in Edgewood, Illinois, his 3rd year of high school was in Percy, Illinois and he graduated from Pinckneyville, Illinois High School in 1940. Mr. Prater joined the Navy Air Corps in 1942 and received his Navy Wings of Gold. He was commissioned Ensign in 1944, the same day he married Evelyn Maxine Ensor. He served as a carrier based pilot until the end of WWII.
After the war he served an additional 13 years in the Navy Ready Reserve and retired as Lt. Senior Grade. Mr. Prater attended college at DePauw University, Ball State Teachers College and University of Iowa. He worked as assistant to the personnel manager at Oliver Corp. from 1946-1951 in Shelbyville, Illinois. Mr. Prater joined Pan American World Airways in 1952 and retired as Captain in 1982. He served as Post Commander of the American Legion in Cowden, Illinois for two years, coached Khoury League baseball in Miami for two years and was a member of the Joppa Masonic Lodge #706 in Cowden, Illinois for over 50 years.
Mr. Prater was a former member of Silver Lake Country Club in Leesburg, Florida and a former member of Spring Lake Golf Resort. He is preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Maxine Prater. He is survived by two daughters, Dianna Lynn Drescher (Harry) of Ft. Lauderdale and Donna Lea Penny of Miami, and three grandchildren: Rod Penny (Ana), Debbie Penny (Josh), and Trevor Drescher. He is also survived by two sisters, Virginia Keene and Shirley Dority of Ft. Lauderdale. Services will be held at Dowden Funeral Home Chapel on April 17, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. with Rev. Rudy Fagan officiating.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until service time. Burial will be in South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 1110 Hammock Road, Sebring, FL 33870. Condolences may be expressed by visiting TBO.Com. His pilot’s prayer: May your last flight west be fair of wind and free from turbulence. Dowden Funeral Home 2605 Bayview Street Sebring, Florida 33870 Phone: (863)385-1546