Solar power ambassador Clarence “Brad” Prather dies

“Solar Brad” was a Petaluma resident for more than 35 years.|

Clarence Bradford “Brad” Prather, 92, of Petaluma, passed away peacefully on Aug. 17.

A resident of Petaluma for more than 35 years, he was fondly known as “Solar Brad,” the ambassador promoting solar-powered energy to adults and children.

Prather’s early years were spent on the family-owned Adams Springs Resort in Lake County. He honorably served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a machinist for United Airlines for 20 years until his retirement in 1984. He also served as a lecturer at San Mateo College for a few years, teaching machine tool and die skills. He recently played a small part along side his grandsons in the 2015 movie, “Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter.”

He loved sailing in the San Francisco Bay Area and was a master sailor. He had a great passion for designing and creating energy-efficient structures. During his life he designed and built a solar-powered golf cart as well as hundreds of solar-powered toys and gadgets. He displayed these items at county fairs and schools, as well as the 2010 Senior Expo in Los Angeles. He was featured in stories in the Argus-Courier and Press Democrat in recent years.

Prather, son of Clarence and Vera Prather, is survived by his daughter, Luana Zellner; two grandsons, David and Nathan; and two great grandchildren, Alice and Maxwell, all living in Austin, Texas.

Prather’s many talents as well as his generosity, positive outlook and kind spirit will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Graveside services will be held Aug. 27 at the Saint Helena Cemetery in St. Helena.

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