Dale LeRoy Prater

After living many years with advancing dementia, Dale LeRoy Prater passed away in his sleep on June 13, 2024 in Oroville, California. He had just recently celebrated his 95 th birthday.

Dale was born to Hobart Frank Prater and Lulu May Roy on May 6, 1929 in Tescott, Kansas and grew up in rural Kansas and Missouri. He and his 7 brothers and sisters all survived the hard times brought by the Depression and World War II. He drove teams of horses at age 12; plowing fields for planting when his father was helping with war efforts in nearby towns. Dale also worked away from the family farm as a young boy because the older men had been drafted into World War II. He worked for neighbors in the fields during harvest times and drove an early morning truck route to collect milk from dairy farmers while in High School. As he grew older, Dale drove semi-trucks (while still in his teens) and worked other jobs including laying cement curbing. He grew up poor but was as hardworking and honest as they come. Most of his family called him by his nickname “Pat”.

Dale’s parents moved to California in 1951 while he was serving in the United States Army in Germany and France. In the Army, Dale served as a Combat Medic Specialist. Following an honorable discharge, Dale moved to Sacramento, California, near his parents and several of his siblings who had also moved to central California.

Dale married Ella Ruth Wolff on June 5, 1955 in Sacramento, California, a few months after they had met at a dance. They lived most of their early married life in Orangevale, California where they built their first house and raised their 3 daughters.

Dale briefly worked for PG&E before completing a 4-year apprentice program to become certified as an aircraft mechanic at McClellan Air Force Base. He was promoted through many positions during his 33-year career with the United Stated Department of Defense and attained the position of General Foreman over all civilian flight lines; including responsibility as the Alternate (sub) Maintenance Duty Officer, overseeing 6,000 employees.

Dale and Ella moved to Oroville California after he retired from McClellan Air Force Base in 1985. There they built another house and created the 70-acre ranch that he loved so much. On their ranch Dale and Ella raised horses, mules and cows and tended a large productive garden. Dale enjoyed training and riding his horses and mules. He was an avid hunter and fisherman from a very young age. Being outdoors, especially in the mountains, was a source of pure joy for him.

Dale was an active member of several Baptist churches in and around Oroville for many years. His faith was sincere and he was strong in his beliefs based on the bible. He is preceded in death by Anna (Norman) Elrod, Hobart “Shell” (Sophia) Prater, Vera (James) Dixon, Lester “Pete” (Ruth) Prater, and Hazel (Robert) Salmen- LiVecchi. Dale is survived by his sisters Betty (James) Hamrick of Lincoln, CA, Virginia (Dennis) McElwain, Port Orchard, WA, daughters Sandra (Steve) Kratville, Missoula, MT, Lorna (Robert) Hudson, Calhan, CO, Traci Moreno (Dave Akers), Morro Bay, CA; and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Dale will be missed by his family and friends including memory care and medical staff that cared for him in recent years.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 10:00 am at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5646 Lincoln Blvd, Oroville, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Freedom Hospice Care [519 D Street, Suite B, Marysville, CA 95901; Phone (530) 742-8400] or a charitable organization of your choice.

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