Frank D. Prather

Frank D. Prather, 73, of Meadville, died Tuesday, November 4, 1980, at United Methodist Nursing Home and Hospital following a two-month illness.

He was born in Meadville, April 7, 1907, a son of Judge Thomas Jefferson and Margaret Kramer Prather.  He married June Zeitler in 1939.

Prather held a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH, and a master's degree in physics from Pennsylvania State University.  He received his law degree from University of Pittsburgh Law School in 1933 and was admitted to Crawford County Bar Assn. that year.

He joined Roy Peters in legal practice and formed the firm Peters and Prather.  Upon Peters' death in 1965, he joined in legal practice with his son Mark.  In 1974, Prather and his son formed the firm Prather, Prather, Pineo, including as a partner William Pineo, Prather's son-in-law.  Prather remained active in legal practice until his recent illness.

He was a member of Stone United Methodist Church and president of the Men's Bible Class at the church for over 40 years.  He served over 20 years as a member of the board for a time and was instrumental in launching planes for the county vocational-technical school in 1968.

He was a member of Meadville Lions Club and Round Table, Meadville Grange and Cussewago Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  He had served on Meadville Public Library's Board of Directors.

In his free time he enjoyed chess, tennis and bridge.  He once achieved a draw in chess playing former world chess champion, Samuel Reschevsky at an Erie tournament.  He was a former city tennis champion and tournament director of Meadville Bridge Club for over 15 years.  He spent much of his recreational time at his summer home at Conneaut Lake.

He is survived by his wife and three sons, Mark D. of Meadville, Thomas M. of Wilmington, NC and F. Lee of Raleigh, NC; three daughters, Mrs. William (Patricia) Pineo of Conneaut Lake, Mrs. Georgios (Sally) Prather-Kyvernitis of Meadville and Mary Sue Prather of Lisbon, Portugal; a sister, Mrs. James (Marion) Charlton of Meadville; four brothers, John B. and Gerald D. of Meadville, Thomas J. Jr. of Basking Ridge, NJ and William K. of Cochranton and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, a brother, and a son.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Greendale Cemetery.