Dave E. Prater
October 10, 1941 - December 26, 2016
Dave E. Prater, 75, passed away December 26, 2016, at his home in Wichita. He was born October 10, 1941, in Pueblo, CO, the son of Dave G. and Gladys V. (Jenkins) Prater. He was an auto mechanic at several Chevrolet and Ford dealerships in Kansas and Colorado over the span of 20 years. He was Baptized on April 20, 1952 at the First Christian Church, Pratt, KS. Graduated Pratt High School on May 27, 1959, Pratt, KS. Enlisted in the US Navy Aviation on October 5, 1959, where he was stationed in Atsugi, Japan, served in the Vietnam War and was Honorably Discharged as an E4 on October 4, 1965. On September 5, 1964 he married Sharon J. Westerman at St. John Lutheran Church in Nashville, KS and was confirmed on October 25, 1964 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pratt, KS. After they were married, they started their life together in Pratt, KS, where Constance was born. They then moved to Liberal, KS where Christina was born. In the early 70’s, they moved to Brighton, CO, where they lived until Sharon was transferred to Howell, MI, then to Indianapolis, IN and then again to Overland Park, KS. In 2015, they made one final move to Wichita, KS to finally retire. Dave was a member of American Legion Post # 350 in Spring Hill, KS, Lifetime member of Elks Lodge BPOE #1586 in Brighton, CO, Men’s Club Member at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pratt, KS, and Zion Lutheran, Brighton, CO. He was also a registered citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sharon J. (Westerman) Prater, Wichita, KS; his two daughters, Constance M. (Rusty) Rathbun of Wichita, KS and Christina J. (Jerome) Wesley of Indianapolis, IN; granddaughter, Carrington J. Thom, Wichita, KS; and half brother, Eli Prater, Hominy, OK. Visitation will be Saturday and Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. with family receiving friends Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 2, 2017 at St. John Lutheran Church, Nashville, KS, with Pastor Merlyn Lohrke and Pastor Dennis Fangmeyer presiding. Graveside service with military honors will follow at St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery, Nashville, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, B-29 All Veterans Memorial or American Legion, Pratt, KS in care of Larrison Mortuary.
Dave E. Prater, 75, passed away December 26, 2016, at his home in Wichita. He was born October 10, 1941, in Pueblo, CO, the son of Dave G. and Gladys V. (Jenkins) Prater. He was an auto mechanic at several Chevrolet and Ford dealerships in... View Obituary & Service Information