Donald Gene Prilop

Donald Gene Prilop, 75, of Brazoria, passed away unexpectedly at his home on June 3, 2024.

Don was born in La Grange, Texas, on February 5, 1949, to George and Dolores Janda Prilop, the first of three children. The family moved to Angleton when he was a young boy, and he spent the rest of his childhood in the home they built.

Don graduated from Angleton High School in 1967. While in high school he was active in the school band, playing trombone and earning a band scholarship to Stephen F. Austin State University. He returned home before finishing school and spent time playing in a band with friends. Through a bandmate he met Robbye Strickland, and they were married in 1974. Don and Robbye had two children in the coming years and eventually moved to Wild Peach, near Brazoria, where they raised their children and lived out their days.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Don was drummer for the popular local band, Moonchild. The band would play gigs all over the county, often bringing their children along for rehearsals and festivals. The garage drum kit provided hours of entertainment, and even after he quit the band and no longer played regularly, he remained a musician at heart, and in recent years had taken to recommending songs and live music shows to his family.

Don worked as an estimator for Win-Way, Inc, and Miken Specialties for decades, and he worked hard so that his children could participate in sports and other school activities. He retired in 2010, and afterwards spent much of his days outside, doing home repairs, fiddling around in the garage, and working in the yard. Over the years he built a pond system on the 10+ acres he and Robbye owned, and he enjoyed stocking the ponds with fish and watching the frogs, birds, deer, and other wildlife find respite near the water and under the shade. Don and Robbye loved long drives to the beach and watching sunsets from the back deck, listening to music together. They vacationed multiple times a year in Port Aransas, which became their happy place.

For the past 11 years, Don was Grandpa, a doting grandfather to his only grandchild. The two of them spent many hours riding the golf cart all over the property, having water fights in the pool, hunting backyard tigers with their Nerf guns, and driving Grammy crazy with their shenanigans. She often said she had two kids to care for when they were together. Grandpa and Silas had a special bond, and it was one made strong through love, fun, and similar personalities. These joyful memories will live in our hearts forever.

Don is survived by his daughter, Valerie Prilop (Kim Herrington); son, Nathan Prilop (Cherri); grandson, Silas Herrington-Prilop; sister, Alice Prilop; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

He is preceded in death by his wife of nearly 50 years, Robbye; mother and father, George and Dolores Prilop; and sister, LuAnn Hill.

Stray animals were always lucky when they showed up at Don and Robbye’s house and were either taken in as family or taken to be cared for by someone else. Recently, Don had become obsessed with online eagle cams, sometimes reporting multiple times a day on the baby eaglets’ activities. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local animal shelter or the American Eagle Foundation (https://eagles.org/).

Please join family and friends at an informal service for sharing memories, fellowship, and lunch at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 27, at the American Legion Hall in Brazoria, 203 E San Bernard Street.

Final arrangements entrusted to Dixon Funeral Home of Brazoria at (979) 798-9113.

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