Virginia A. Prather

Virginia A. Prather (nee Pettengill), of Orlando, Florida, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2022, after a short illness. Born on July 27,1947 in Chester, PA., she was the second of 11 children born to Myles and Helen. As her father often referred to her… she was always a "patron of the underdog", taking great joy in helping anyone in distress, or providing insightful advice when needed. A role model for her younger siblings, she was always there with a helping hand. Ginny had her own unique style, and was particularly fond of things oriental. After her high school years at Prendergast H.S., Ginny attended West Chester State University and the University of Houston, majoring in English Literature... leading to jobs with various free trade publishers in Philadelphia and then New York. After meeting and marrying her soulmate, Stephen Prather, they settled in Houston, Texas for a time, before traveling abroad to France, and later Scotland. Soon, to their great joy, their son Alan would join the family. Eventually, they moved to Philadelphia while Steve pursued his MBA at Wharton Business School of The University of Pennsylvania and then to Pittsburgh, PA, where Ginny was employed in various jobs, including Interior Decorating and Administrative positions. In recent years, the family has lived in Orlando, Fl., where Ginny assisted Steve in his job in Real Estate, and where they were both involved in activities at Presbyterian Church of the Lakes in Orlando, FL. In the last few years, Ginny served as the Editor for a small publishing company, Little Rock Press, particularly on a book co-authored by her mother, Helen Pettengill, and her sister, Olivia Maple. This return to the publishing world working with her sister and mother brought much joy to Ginny! Sadly, both Ginny’s husband and son have recently passed, Stephen Prather on Jan. 11, 2022, and Alan Prather on March 1, 2022, both having suffered from Crohn's Disease. Ginny is also predeceased by her father, Myles Standish Pettengill, sister Mary, and brother-in-law Harry. She is survived by her mother Helen M. Pettengill, West Chester, PA, siblings: Suzanne (Dave) McKinney, Hoschton, GA, Marion (Marv) Murdoch, Hopatcong, NJ, Helen Fachet, Hampton Cove, AL, Myles (Linda) Pettengill, Lafayette Hills, PA, Patrick (Barb)Pettengill, Rock Hill, SC, Michael (Colleen) Pettengill, Londonderry, NH, Olivia (Rob) Maple, Galena, IL, Christine (Dan) McDevitt, Glen Mills, PA, and Barbara Jean (Bruce) Foster, Laconia, NH. Ginny is also survived by her husband Steve’s sisters: Jean Pellegrino, Milton, GA; Laverne May, Knoxville, TN; and Gaynelle Edwards, Keller, TX and by many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. A memorial service is scheduled at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA. Those wishing to honor Ginny may want to make a contribution to the American Cancer Society or to the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge in Orlando, FL, (www.btnwildlife.org/), in her memory.

Virginia A. Prather

July 27, 1947 - April 24, 2022