Ethel Robinson Prater, 86, Silver Lake, passed away at her residence surrounded by family at 3:45 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019.

She was born on April 3, 1933, in Blue River, Ky. to Fannie (Wallen) Prater and Lonnie Patrick Robinson. On June 12, 1970, she was married to Earlie Prater. They shared 24 years of marriage together before he passed away on Dec. 24, 1994.

She was a resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana for the past 78 years. She was never afraid of a hard day’s work, she spent 35 years at the Gatke Corporation in Warsaw and then worked for 10 years at Zimmer in Warsaw as the tool crib manager. As she was much older than most of her co-workers, she was affectionately known as “Mom”. She also worked for ten years at Miller’s Merry Manor. She loved her two dog babies, Zoey and Abbey, and was a wonderful homemaker. Ethel always kept an immaculate house and was very proud of that. She never tired of taking care of her beautiful flowers and she especially loved to mow her lawn. She will be remembered as a caring and compassionate mother and grandmother, and a true friend to many who will be dearly missed.

She will be lovingly remembered by her son: Mark (Betty) Jackson, Pierceton; two daughters: Debra (Rick) Dennison, Columbia City; Vicky (Fred) Kline, Silver Lake; son-in-Law: Garry Fortner, North Manchester; seven grandchildren: Teresa, Kim, Rhonda, Michelle, Jennifer, Ryan and Carrie; fourteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She also leaves behind her brother: Robert (Sheryl) Robinson; and seven sisters: Frankie Vanderpool, Lillie (Kelly) Jackson, Eva Jean (Craig) Black, Lucy (Max) Geyer, Jessie (Jack) Sellers, Janie (Lynn) Wheeler, Barb (Charles) Stackhouse, Robert (Sheryl) Robinson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Earlie Prater in 1994, her daughter, Beverlie Fortner in 2007 and her sister, Evelyn Elliott.

Ethels’s life will be celebrated with a funeral service at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, and officiated by Ken Locke. There will be time for visitation prior to the service from 10-1 p.m. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw.

Memorial donations may be directed to Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196 and would be appreciated by the family.