Balina Prater, 72 of Bluffton, passed away on Tuesday morning, July 16, 2024, at Stillwater Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.
Balina was born on Sept. 6, 1951, to Joe and Mary (Gilbert) Gilbert. She graduated from Bluffton High School in 1969. She worked for Franklin Electric for 18 years and then Kitco. Balina enjoyed gardening. On September 9, 1989, Balina and Harold Prater were married in Poneto.
Survivors include her husband, Harold of Bluffton, sons; Joe Grogg of Bluffton and Jerod (Amber) Grogg of Miamisburg, Ohio, along with eight grandchildren: Elizabeth Everett, A.J. Moya, Nicholas Grogg, Angelica Grogg, Madison Grogg, Ava Lainhart, Eli Lainhart and Lexi Grogg, and two great-grandchildren, Kyler Everett and Oliver Grogg.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mary Gilbert, and her siblings; Bobby Gilbert, Johnny Gilbert, Pauline Courtney, Flora Lewis and Jesse Gilbert.
Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home and from noon until the time of the service on Sunday. A funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the funeral home with Pastor Alan Crull officiating.
Memorials may be made to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and directed to the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.