Howard Eugene Prater, of Prestonsburg, Ky., died at age 70 years on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, at Prestonsburg Health Care in Prestonsburg, Ky.
He was the son of William Lee Prater and Zelphia Prater. Although born in Pyramid, Ky., he relocated to Warsaw in 1974, after serving as a corporal in the U.S. Army.
In Indiana, he met and married Ruth Alice Wellman in April 1976 and became the father of Deanna (Prater) Van Skiver, Easton, Md.; and Matthew Prater, Warsaw. He enjoyed a satisfying career at Gatke Corporation of Winona Lake. Howard took up the sport of long-distance running and enjoyed competing in many local races. One of his greatest moments of pride came after years of determination and training when he completed the Sunburst Marathon in South Bend in 1990. A worsening back injury ended his running hobby prematurely, for which he grieved the remainder of his life.
Howard was not someone who easily smiled or enjoyed social functions; instead he preferred solitary activities: reading, fishing and walks in the woods. He also loved playing his guitar and riding his motorcycle along country roads. He passed along his love of nature to his children and encouraged them to spend time in the peaceful quiet of birdsong and tree breezes. Any activity to which Howard turned his attention became something that he pursued with absolute focus. He taught his children that any activity worth their time was worth doing well. Howard always missed living in the hills of eastern Kentucky and returned to Prestonsburg during his retirement.
Howard is survived by his daughter, Deanna Van Skiver and her husband, Daniel Van Skiver, of Easton, Md.; and his son, Matthew Prater ,of Warsaw; his grandchildren, Issac Prater, Hanna Prater and Elliott Van Skiver; his brother, William Powell; his former spouses, Ruby Prater and Ruth Prater; and his cherished black pug, Curly.
Services will be held privately at the family cemetery in Kentucky.
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Memorials to the Kentucky State Parks Foundation: https://www.kentuckystateparksfoundation.org/donate/.
