David Bruce Prather

David Bruce Prather, 75, of Decatur, Alabama, passed away on August 10, 2024. The memorial service will be at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Sandlin Road, SW at a date yet to be determined with Brother Rodney H. Bayless officiating.

David is survived by his wife of 46 years, Bethanie Marks Prather, as well as his two beloved younger sisters, Sandra Smith and Cheryl Parker, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and a great-grandniece.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Arden and Betty Irene Prather, as well as his older brother, William Harley Prather.

David was born Sunday, April 10, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland, where his father served in the US Army. David often spoke of his childhood memories of post-war Austria where his father was stationed and learning to ski in the Alps. Fond memories led to sad ones as his mother fell ill with cancer and died, leaving behind her four children; David was just 12 years old at the time. His father retired from the service to raise him and his siblings, settling on a farm outside of Akron, Ohio. David suffered another great loss as his brother was killed in action.

In time, David found great comfort in the study of the Bible devoted himself to his newfound faith out of the deepest appreciation for what Jesus’ ransom did for him and the hope that Jehovah God held out to him in being reunited with his mother and brother. In doing so, he spent 20 years in the full-time ministry and served in volunteer construction work for the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society in Brooklyn as well as Patterson, NY, and in the country of El Salvador. He had the privilege of serving with the body of elders in 10 congregations, including the only English-speaking congregation in El Salvador.

Age and illness have taken David’s life at this time, but what is written in Daniel 12:13 gives great comfort: “But as for you, go on to the end. You will rest, but you will stand up for your lot at the end of the days.”