John H. Prothro, age 92, passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans' Warhome in Bossier City, LA. He was born June 12, 1928 in Robeline, Louisiana to W.P. and Ella (Cutright) Prothro. He was preceded in death by his loving wife whom he adored, Mary Lou (Lindsey) Prothro, his parents, and five siblings (Paul, Pete, CW, Eulanee, and Naomi). He was a Korean War Veteran who served in the United States Army from 1950-1952.

As a very young man he learned to work hard and to take on whatever job was available to support himself. His early years included helping on his family's farm, retrieving timber/cross-ties from the forest for the railroad, being a railroad assembly worker, and working in the local saw mill. After his service in the Korean War, he received an honorable discharge and became a pole lineman for numerous telephone and power companies. Whether it was sixty feet in the air or thousands, he worked without a net; just another day at the office. Even after sustaining a broken back and being left in a full torso cast from a tower collapsing incident, he continued this line of work until his retirement from B & B Outdoor Advertising. Although he did not have an official "degree", he was an engineer at heart. He could solve any problem you didn't know you had in a way you didn't understand (often-times turning something complex into something simple). He had a talent for building or fixing anything using old parts or "junk" and was always willing to help out when someone was in a bind or needed a handyman.

"Papa Johnny" had a wealth of funny stories about his childhood and years as a young man. Family and friends have many fond memories of swinging and rocking on his front porch, attending one of the many fish fries over the years, and listening to him spin a tale while giving his unique reflections on life. Papa Johnny had an endearing laugh and was always smiling.

His quiet and kind character made him a role model who led by example. His character encompassed the very meanings of humility, generosity, and appreciation. Ever the humble man in life and now in death, he wouldn't want us to focus on him or make him the center of attention. Yet his impact on all fortunate enough to know him is larger than any recognition could express. Whether it comes to having a strong work ethic, being thoughtful of others before yourself, or being a perfectionist who doesn't rest until the job is done right, we all have certainly learned a thing or two from who Papa Johnny was.  Papa Johnny may have had silver hair, but he had gold in his heart. He loved going fishing, building and fixing things, playing poker and dominoes, and going to the racetrack to watch the "ponies" run.

There are countless happy recollections of Papa Johnny. Some memories shared by those who loved Papa Johnny most include him: cooking up pancakes as an after school snack, tirelessly chauffeuring to and from the bus stop, constantly trying to sneak some cash in our pockets (no matter how old you are), bravely teaching us to drive on his old standard Ford pickup, showing us how to garden, taking us fishing with GrandMary, consistently telling us something to make us laugh, patiently showing us how to build things (like his house, forts in the woods, and homemade toys and slip n' slides), escorting a bride down the aisle, and vigilantly caring for our GrandMary. You could always count on him to be attentive when you needed some advice. He taught us so much more than we could ever learn in school. He had the experience and wisdom of a long, productive life. He never ran out of humorous old colloquialisms. One of his favorites when we asked, "How ya doin?" was to say, "Oh, kickin...but not high". You may have heard him express his disbelief or shock with an "Oh Horace!" or shoo something away with a "Scat Cat!".

He will be survived with love and remembrance by four daughters, seven grandkids, thirteen great-grandkids, nine great-great-grandkids, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. We will forever carry your memory in our hearts and pass on your influence to generations to come. A memorial service will be held at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Keithville, LA on Friday, July 2, at 11:00 am.

"The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." Psalms 90:10