Prater Stone, Sr. son of the late Alice and Walker Stone, Sr. was born febuary 23, 1933 in Maryland. He was called home to rest on July 31, 2007. He was reared in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Baltimore City Public Schools. In 1953, he joined the United States Army. After a honorable discharge for the army, he went to work for General Motors. Prater the retired after 33 years of service. He was married to the former Geraldine E. Easley, of this union they were blessed with five children; three daughters Sharon ''Pat,'' Judy, and Rhonda; two sons, gary and the late Prater Jr. Other siblings who preceded him in death were Dorothy, Elizabeth NED, and Walter Stone ,Jr. Prater was affectionately called ''Stoney'' by his family and close friends, but was well known as ''Poppy'' by his grandchildren. He was also known for his ''Stoneisms'' as he called it. Exmaples included; ''I'm going to see a man about a horse,'' I'm going to put the African Soup Bones on you,'' and ''I'm gonna eat a Georgia ham.'' better known as a watermelon. And his all time favorite and famous solution for fixing this; ''If its broke--Duct,'' ''Torn--Duck Tape,'' Craked-- Duck Tape,'' Cut-- Duck--Tape,'' Or is all else fails--Still use Duck Tape.'' He enjoyed cooking seafood and making claim dip, listening to jazz, shooting pool, playing cards and had a true gift of artistry. He was also a member of Spinoza Inc. some of he more memorable past times included watching his favorite T.V. shows, consisting of 60 minutes, Wheel of Fortune, the Price is right, discovery Channel and WWE Wrestling. He leaves to cherish fond memories; a loving wife of fifty 50 years, Geraldine Stone, four 4 devoted children, Sharon ''Pat'' Whittington, Judy Stone, Rhonda Stone and Gary Stone, seven 7 grandchildren, Kenisha Stone, Stacy Whittington, Cory Whittington, Kevin Jackson, Jr., Ericka Stone, Dorian Davis and Alexis Davis; one great grandchild, Amya ''Rough-n- Ready'' Whittington; two 2 sisters, Bernice Johnson and Betty Sims; three 3 brothers, Maurice, Robert and Alvin Stone; one daughter-in-law, Helen Stone; three 3 brothers-in-laww, four 4 isiters-in-law; his close friends, Vernon Williams, Jim, Alvin and Mr. Ernie, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.