Prather, Lawrence D. "Rodney"

Lawrence D. “Rodney” Prather

Jan. 12, 1931- April 14, 2013

PERRYSVILLE, Ind. — Lawrence D. “Rodney” Prather, 82, of Perrysville, Ind., passed away at 12:34 p.m. EDT Sunday, April 14, 2013, at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Ind.

He was born Jan. 12, 1931, to Arnold and Mary (Clawson) Prather in Rileysburg, Ind.

He married Donna Spezia on March 30, 1957, in Perrysville, Ind. She survives.

Lawrence is survived by his daughter, Lisa (Darrell) Morgan; son, Jonathan (Christina) Prather of Covington, Ind.; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Steve) Burrows and Chloe Prather; great-grandchildren, Ellie and Amelia Burrows; and his sister, Beverly Friedlund.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Lawrence was a graduate of Perrysville High, Class of 1949. He served his country during the Korean War as a member of the United States Army, and upon returning home he found work as a farmer. Later he went to work for the U.S. Post Office as a letter carrier in Danville before being transferred to Perrysville rural route in Indiana and then the Covington rural route where he stayed until his retirement after 40 years with the Postal Service.

An active member of the Perrysville United Methodist Church, he enjoyed golfing, playing cards, farming, bowling, mushroom hunting and he always found time to attend North Vermillion basketball and football games. Lawrence was an avid runner, and at 50 years old he ran his first marathon. He bought his home in 1974, and it became a lifelong project.

A member of the Lions Club, he also was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star 302, a 50-year Mason of the Unity Lodge 344, and he served on the North Vermillion School Board. Above all else, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandkids and great-grandkids

A celebration of Lawrence’s life will begin at 10 a.m. CDT Thursday, April 18, at Sunset Funeral Home in Danville, with the Rev. Jason Dean of Perrysville United Methodist Church officiating, and burial at Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. CDT Wednesday, April 17, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, A Life Celebration Home, in Danville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Lawrence’s name to The United Methodist Church of Perrysville in Perrysville, Ind. Condolences may be left at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.