Ann Gorin Prothro

Retired Small Business Entrepreneur & Genealogist Ann Gorin Prothro dies at 12:10 PM, Thursday, April 11, 2019 at her residence in Bowling Green, KY.

Daughter of NCAA & NFL football coach, J. Thompson “Tommy” Prothro, Jr., of Memphis, TN, and Ann Murrell Gorin of Savannah, GA, ANN GORIN PROTHRO was born 27 Dec 1943 in Memphis, Shelby Co., TN.  Granddaughter of Katherine Cates of Cate’s Landing, TN, & Dr. James Thompson “Doc” Prothro of Memphis and of Lucy Weisiger Wilson & Dr. James Wilson Gorin of Savannah, GA & Franklin, KY.

Ann was a 1961 graduate of Franklin-Simpson High School, Franklin. KY, where she lettered in tennis and was on the debate team.  She attended Vanderbilt University and Memphis State University (now Univ. of Memphis), pledged Chi Omega, represented Las Lectoras Book Club as a Lady-In-Waiting in the 1963 Cotton Carnival, announced as a 1964 Savannah, GA, debutant, and worked in the 1964 presidential campaign on behalf of Sen. Barry Goldwater.

After college Ann lived briefly in Corvallis, OR, & Brentwood, CA. She married in 1966 and divorced in 1972 living in Evanston, IL, for 3 years, Los Angeles, CA for 8 years, Enumclaw, WA, for 24 years, and in Versailles, KY, for 11 years before taking a house in Bowling Green, KY, next door to a younger relative in 2014.   Partner in the 1970’s in a multi-office personnel agency headquartered in Beverly Hills, Ann retired to a small farm in Washington state where she raised cow-calf pairs, invested in real estate, participated in a retail-restaurant complex, and later became a stock broker.  Ann loved to cook & enjoyed playing golf.  An essayist, she was also an avid reader.

Prothro, a Welsh name, originally Protheroe, is the Anglicized form of “ap Rhydderch” which means ‘son of Roderick.’   A Kentucky Colonel with a dedication to genealogy, her on-line genealogy database at http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?includedb=agp4fams remains as a testimony to her hobby. Ann joined DAR as a member of Samuel Davies Chapter, Bowling Green, KY in 1966; served as Chaplain of the Mary Ball Chapter in Tacoma, WA; was Vice-Regent of Gen. Marquis Calmes Chapter, Versailles, KY; and most recently had transferred to the Simpson County (KY) Chapter.  Additionally, she was a member of Magna Charta Dames, many historical societies, and several family surname organizations including Clan Kincaid International where she served as Kentucky Commissioner and the Calmes Family Society of Versailles.  She was a memorialist of the Weisiger Family of Frankfort, KY, and a long-term supporter of various Scottish Highland Games Associations.

Growing up with a strong interest in American & British histories and government, Ann was a life-long advocate of individual rights & responsibilities, constitutionally limited government, free market opportunity, & Founders' Principles.  A registered Republican & a precinct chairman in two states she attended Tea Party and 9/12 meetings & gatherings in numerous locations including on the D.C. Mall, and in 2009 founded the Versailles Freedom Circle. Recently she had been tapped as a member of the Conservative American Ladies in Bowling Green.

Ann was a devout Christian, raised from an infant in Presbyterian & Methodist Episcopal Churches, she was baptized at 13 by immersion.  An Ordained Deacon in Presbyterian Church, and a former Episcopal communicant, she was for some years lately in sympathy with Anglican Church.  She was an active supporter of the Salvation Army, the Billy Graham Ministries, and The Navigators.

Ann is survived by her long-time friend & companion Karen Buege, her 2nd cousin Amy Hughes Wood (Mrs. Franklin Wood), Amy’s two sons, Andrew and Paul Wood, and numerous cousins in Tennessee.  Memorials are requested to be sent to the Bowling Green Salvation Army, 400 W. Main, BG 42101  or to NSDAR 1776 D St. NW, Washington DC 20006-5303 or Nat’l Assoc. of Scholars  12 E. 45 St., 6W, NY, NY 10017.

Arrangements are under the direction of Gilbert Funeral Home where services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, April 16, 2019 with burial to follow in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, KY with the Rev. Franklin Wood officiating.

Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM Monday, April 15, 2019 and from 6:00 AM until funeral service time Tuesday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be made www.gilbertfhonline.com