Obituary of Hugh Prather

Lt Colonel (RET) Hugh Charles Prather, Sr. Lt Colonel (RET) Hugh Charles Prather, Sr. passed away on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, surrounded by the love of his family. Hugh was born on September 26, 1918 in Spartanburg, SC, a son of the late John William and Essie Nanney Prather. In 1941, he married his beloved wife, Mary Elaine Scruggs. They celebrated 70 years of marriage this past June. A member of the ?Greatest Generation?, Hugh served his country during World War II in the Army Air Corps. He served as a Crew Instructor on four different airplanes and wrote a manual on airplane engineering for A 20?s. After World War II, he continued his lifelong military service as a member of the US Army Reserves. In 1948, upon request from the Executive Officer of the Charlotte Reserve Center and the Postmaster of Charlotte, then Staff Sergeant Prather organized and recruited officers for the 312th Army Postal Unit. In 1949, then 2nd Lieutenant Prather assumed command of the 312th. Rising to the rank of Captain, he served as Company Commander until 1965. Under his outstanding leadership, the 312th Army Postal Unit consistently received superior and excellent ratings and became the Outstanding Reserve Unit to serve at Fort Jackson during the Berlin Crisis. Later, then Major Prather served as Headquarters Commander/Adjutant of the 518th. Hugh continued his service as the Adjutant General for the 108th Division US Army Reserves, Charlotte. After 28 years of service, Lt. Colonel Prather retired from the US Army Reserves in 1974. Not ready to end his service to his county, Hugh found great joy in serving his country?s retired military personnel. He served as Vice-President of the North Carolina Chapter Reserve Officers Association, Co-Chair for the Southern Piedmont Area (Region III) of the North Carolina Army Retiree council, and on national committees of the Reserve Officers Association. LTC Prather was awarded The Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the Department of the Army in February of 2003 while serving as the Co-Chairman for the Southern Piedmont Area (Region III) North Carolina Army Retiree Council. Mr. Prather retired from the United States Postal Service as Quality Control Office in 1987 after 42 years of service. He also served as President of the Charlotte Postal Union and the State Postal Union (NPU). Mr. Prather was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and received the Scouter of the Year award in 1968 and 1970. He held numerous leadership positions in the Optimist Club and received the President of the Year Award. He also served on the Red Cross Blood Bank Committee. A member of Myers Park Baptist Church for over 50 years, Mr. Prather was a former member of First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon . He was passionate about learning and was always reading. He loved working in his yard and was most proud of his beautiful azaleas. Hugh Prather will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and is survived by his wife, Elaine; three children, Mary Prather Buckley and her husband, Bob of Lancaster, SC, Hugh Charles Prather, Jr., and Pamela Prather Poe and her husband, Mike of Charlotte, NC; eight grandchildren, Hunter Floyd (Tina), Todd Floyd (Melanie), Jay Floyd (Debbie); Laura and Emily Prather; Jennifer, Christopher and Sarah Poe. Hugh is also survived by eight great grandchildren, three step great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Hugh is also survived by his brother, John William Prather Jr. of Hendersonville, NC. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Virginia Prather Bobo, Essie Julia Prather Weissrock, and his brother, Wallace Vernon Prather. The family would like to thank the staff of Plantation Estates, Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy, and Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region. Funeral services with full military honors will be 11:00 a.m. Monday in the Sharon Memorial Park Mausoleum with the Reverend Dr. Stephen Shoemaker officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 3:00 until 5:00 at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Boulevard and on Monday at 1:00 p.m. at Plantation Estates. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 6675, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or a charity of the donor's choice.