RATER, Homer Jesse - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

ATTICA — Homer Jesse Rater, 70, 1300 N. Perry, Attica, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frances Kirts, 2610 Underwood St., Lafayette, 5:15 p.m. Tuesday. He had been in ill health the past year. Born in Warren County August 8, 1898, he was the son of Francis and Vashti Elizabeth Rayl Rater. He spent most of his life in and around Attica except for the past year in Lafayette with his daughters. He married Ruth Mae Kirts April 23, 1919 in Lafayette who preceded him in death February 27, 1967. In his early life he was a farmer. In later years he worked for the City of Attica, also for Poston-Herron Brick Plant and Harrison Steel Castings Co. The last two or three years he helped his son, Elvin, at the saw mill. He attended the Free Methodist Church of Attica and was a life member of the Moose Lodge of Attica. Surviving are three sons, Robert of Champaign, Ill.; Elvin and Donald of Attica; four daughters, Mrs. Stanley (Jessie) Sipes, Mrs. Merle (Frances) Kirts, Mrs. Lurane (Maxine) Lister and Mrs. Lewis (Betty) Wien, all of Lafayette; one brother, Ed of Renesslaer; two sisters, Mrs. Bernard Baldwin of San Gabriel, Calif. and Mrs. Eunice Reynolds of Memphis, Tenn.; 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Final rites were 2 p.m. Saturday at DeSutter Funeral Home for Homer J. Rater, 70, of Attica. He died Tuesday evening at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Frances Kirts of Lafayette. Rev. Darold Hill officiated. Pallbearers included Thomas Swanson, Dwayne Rater, Thomas Sipes, Kenneth Kirts, John Kirts and Morris Kirts. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery.   --waw