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Obituary: Elizabeth Perkins Prothro
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WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS - Respected philanthropist and higher education advocate Elizabeth Perkins Prothro died Saturday, May 23, 2009, at her home in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of 89. Services were conducted Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls. Private interment was at Riverside Cemetery in Wichita Falls.
Mrs. Prothro was born Sept. 7, 1919, in Dallas, Texas, to Lois Craddock Perkins and Joe J. Perkins of Wichita Falls. She attended Wichita Falls public schools, graduating in 1935 from Wichita Falls High School, and attended Sweet Briar College and Southern Methodist University (SMU), from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939. She married Charles Nelson Prothro of Wichita Falls in 1938.
A champion of higher education in Texas, Virginia, California and South Carolina, Mrs. Prothro continued a family tradition initiated by her parents in Dallas in 1913. Mrs. Prothro served on the SMU Board of Trustees, Executive Board of Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and Midwestern State University Board of Regents. Academic institutions named major recipients of her largess include SMU, Sweet Briar College, and the University of Texas. In addition, she strengthened student opportunities at Wofford College, Stanford University, Baylor University Medical Center, Texas Wesleyan University, Southwestern University, and Baylor University.
At Wofford College, Mrs. Prothro facilitated endowment of the Perkins-Prothro Endowed Chaplaincy and Professorship in Religion. Her grandson, Pat Prothro, serves on the Wofford Board of Trustees and was a charter member of the President's Advisory Board.
At Sweet Briar, Mrs. Prothro and her family made possible Prothro Hall, cornerstone of the Sweet Briar Student Commons complex, the Charles and Elizabeth Prothro Natatorium, and establishment of the Prothro scholarship fund endowment. In addition, she was a founding organizer and served as the first chairman of Friends of the Library of Sweet Briar College. The organ in the Sweet Briar Memorial Chapel was given by Mrs. Protho's mother, Lois Perkins, in honor of her daughter and granddaughter. Sweet Briar named Mrs. Prothro recipient of the Centennial Award and Distinguished Alumna Award in recognition of her significant service to the school.
A photographer of professional stature, Mrs. Prothro's photographs may be found today in private collections, educational institutions, commercial settings, and publications. Esteemed for her floral photographs, Mrs. Prothro served on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Board during years the First Lady was actively involved.
Her respect for photographers and their art is evidenced by the Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Photography Gallery at the Harry Ransom Center at UT and her support for the UT photography collections, ranked among the world's finest. Mrs. Prothro was instrumental in providing the cornerstone gift and subsequent commitments for Ransom Center and the Prothro Theater at UT.
At SMU, students today benefit from endowed scholarships, fellowships, premiere facilities made possible by Mrs. Prothro and her family. In addition, the university is home to Mrs. Prothro's renowned, 485-volume collection of Bibles and related works spanning eight centuries. Seed of the collection was several volumes presented to Mrs. Prothro by her husband in 1963 on their 25th anniversary.
Today, the collection is housed in the Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Galleries, a gift from her husband on their 50th anniversary, at Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology at SMU. Books from the collection have been exhibited at Sweet Briar College, the University of Texas, Emory and Henry College, Southwestern University, and Wichita Falls Museum and Art Center.
Mrs. Prothro's interest in Bibles spawned a broader interest in books and libraries, leading her to serve as president of Friends of SMU Libraries/Colophon and
chairman of SMU Libraries Executive Board. A member of SMU Press, she served as editor of SMU Reflections (SMU Press, 1986) and also contributed photographs to the work.
Mrs. Prothro was named recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award and honorary Doctor of Humane Letter by SMU, Doctor of Letters by Southwestern University, and the Award for Philanthropy by the Council of Independent Colleges. Her most recent honor was the naming of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall at Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 2007.
Also a lifelong supporter of First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls (FUMC), Mrs. Prothro was the first woman named chairman of the Official Board. In addition, she served as chairman of the Perkins Lecture Committee, chairman of the Commission on Worship, and co-chairman of the Heritage Committee; held numerous positions in United Methodist Women, and taught Sunday school. She also served on the World Methodist Council Executive Committee.
Mrs. Prothro and her husband were instrumental in construction of the Prothro Family Atrium at FUMC in 1997, and she made artistic contribution to the Christian banners that hang in the Atrium. Her legacy at FUMC also includes a comprehensive renovation in 2002-3 of the church's 1928 Reuter organ, now Garland organ, with accompanying acoustical improvements to the sanctuary. In 2004, the church inaugurated the Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Organ Concert Series, which features internationally renowned organists.
Other philanthropic interests in her city of residence included Wichita Falls Museum and Art Center, of which she was a founding member; and River Bend Nature Center, home to the Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Pavilion.
Mrs. Prothro is survived by three children, Joe Prothro and wife, Dale; Kay Yeager and husband, Frank; Mark Prothro and wife, Dianne, all of Wichita Falls; and daughter-in-law, Caren Prothro of Dallas. Other survivors include grandchildren Kathryn R. Prothro, David Prothro and wife, Leslie; Nelson Prothro and wife, Jaclyn; Mary Perkins Prothro, Elizabeth Yeager, Linda Beltchev and husband, Alex; Vincent Prothro, Nita Clark and husband, Cullum; Holly Philbin and husband, Phillip; and Pat Prothro. Great-grandchildren include Reagan Lunn and wife, Ashley; Erica Green-Prothro, Christopher Prothro, and Katie Prothro; Lara Herreid, Yeager Edwards, Nicholas Beltchev, and Andrew Beltchev; Lillian Clark, Annabel Clark, and Charlotte Clark; Charles Philbin, Luke Philbin, and Mark Philbin. She also is survived by one great-great-grandchild, Parker Lunn.
Mrs. Prothro was preceded in death by her husband in 2001, their son, Charles Vincent (C. Vin) Prothro of Dallas in 2000, a younger sister, Dorothy Jo Perkins in 1926; and her mother and father in 1983 and 1960, respectively.
The family wishes to acknowledge the longtime dedication and care of Mrs. Prothro by Glenda Ponder, Marilyn Campbell, and Arnita Myles, and also the care provided by Lucy Davila, CarePartners, and Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Honorary pallbearers are Ralph Bullington, Robert Priddy; nephews James J. Prothro and Charles B. Prothro, and all present and past employees of Perkins-Prothro Company.
In lieu of floral tributes, the family requests memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church Foundation, Wichita Falls, Texas; or Hospice of Wichita Falls.For more information contact Pati Haworth at ph@grahampr.com or gprl@earthlink.net.