Billy Ward Prather

Billy Ward Prather, age 95, of Odessa, Texas passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Odessa. Funeral service will be held Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM, at Sunset Memorial Gardens. 

Bill met his beloved wife, Norma, here in Odessa, marrying at the tender ages of 20 and 17, respectively. The cute energetic couple started housekeeping in Snyder, Texas in 1949, where Bill worked for an oil company. After seven years of faithful service, he was transferred to South Louisiana and promoted to manager.  He supplied refined petroleum products to drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.  He especially enjoyed riding in a sea plane to visit his customers and learned how to fly in case of an emergency. Wherever the job took him on board roads, crew boats, barges, tugboats, helicopters, or sea planes, he always returned home at night to his beloved wife, three children and a good dinner.  

In 1954, Bill accepted the Lord as his Savior and was baptized and remained a faithful member of the Church of Christ throughout his life. He was a quiet man who enjoyed nature, mountain streams, fly fishing and camping with his family.   He was a devoted husband and father and Christian.  He lived his life quietly with purpose according to Micah 6:8 “I tell you, O man, what the Lord requires of thee.  To do justly, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God.” 

 Bill is preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Brenda Prather.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 75 years, Norma; daughter, Cathy Prather Knauss (Walter); son, Michael Prather; and five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.