James Roberson Pruter

James Roberson Pruter, 85, of Orange passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2011. He was born in Orange, Texas on November 20, 1925 to parents Vera Starks Pruter and Douglas A. Pruter Sr. He was a graduate of Orange High School and served his country in the Navy during World War II. He attended the University of Illinois receiving his Bachelors? degree in Floraculture. Along with his brother, Douglas A. Pruter Jr., he owned and operated Pruter?s Flowers, Gifts, and Interiors for over fifty years. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Texas State Florist Association and was a proud member of FTD. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Orange, Texas. During his lifetime there, he served as elder, deacon, church trustee, and member of the Chancel Choir. Although he did not attend the University of Texas at Austin, he was a Texas Longhorn through and through supporting their athletics and scholarship programs. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed talking to everyone about ?Old Orange?. He was an avid golfer and longtime member of Sunset Grove Country Club playing in ?The Herd? every Wednesday afternoon for the majority of his life. He played bridge and poker and loved playing with his Thursday night poker group and a myriad of internet bridge players. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend who will be missed dearly. His parents and his brother preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Charlotte See Pruter; daughters Ann Pruter Seals and Susan Pruter Swan; their husbands Henry Seals and Bobby Swan, all of Orange; his grandsons Dr. Bobby Seals of Austin and James Swan of Orange; and by his niece Scott Pruter and her partner Carol Harriman of Reno, NV. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 3PM at First Presbyterian Church in Orange, Texas prior to the funeral service at 4PM. The Reverend Mike Umbenhaur will officiate. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Orange. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 902 Green Ave, Orange, TX 77630; or Orange County Texas Exes Scholarship Fund, c/o 2613 Champions Drive, Orange, TX 77630.