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TOLBERT PRATER, 76 years of age of the Roseann section of Hurley, VA, passed away Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the Wellmont Hospice following an extended illness. Born in Pike County, KY, he was the son of the late Troy and Ethel Hunt Prater. He was a resident of Buchanan County most of his life and was a member of Vansant Church of Christ. Mr. Prater was a 1953 graduate of Hurley High School and received his B.S. in Elementary Education from Pikeville College. He was a devoted husband, loving  father, grandfather, and was a School Teacher and Bus Driver.

Mr. Prater is survived by his wife of 57-years, Betty Justus Prater, Roseann, VA.  He is also survived by 1-Son: Timothy Tolbert and wife Rhonda Prater, Roseann, Va., 2- sisters: Beatrice Prater, Roanoke, Va., Autom Mayo, Pikeville, Ky., 2-Brothers: Ulvert and wife Bonnie Prater, Hurley, Va., and Wendell and wife Mary Prater, Hurley, Va.

Also, survived by 2-Grandsons: Jonathan and Jordan Prater, Special Sister-in-Law: Phyllis Sumrall and 2-Special Brothers-in-Law: Ance Wolford and Pat Justus.

He was preceded in death by 1-Infant Son: Ernest Prater, 1-Sister: Virginia Spencer, and 1-Brother: Arnold Prater.            

Funeral Services for TOLBERT PRATER will be conducted Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evgs. Mike Rife, Hobert Kennedy and Paul Potter officiating with burial to follow in the Justus Family Cemetery on Peeled Poplar of Roseann, near Hurley, VA.

Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Friday evening at 6:00 P.M. with services at 7:00 P.M.

Active Pallbearers will be James Spencer, Randy Spencer, Steve Spencer, Mike Wolford, Steve Wolford, Terry Wolford, Chris Wolford, Curtis Stacy, Donald Stacy, Willie Stacy, Stan Thacker, Gary Estep, Brian Justus and Kevin Justus.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Johnny Justus, Pat Justus, Ance Wolford, Andrew Horn, The Jackson Brothers, Doug Melvin, Wayne Hall, Joey Blankenship, Phillip Rife and the Men of the Vansant Church of Christ.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, Virginia is in charge of all arrangements.