RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Arlene R. Pratt age 89 formerly of Monticello passed away peacefully on Friday morning February 18, 2011 in the Otsego Manor, Cooperstown, where she has resided for the past four years. She was born on March 3, 1921 in East Winfield, daughter of the late Clyde and Anna McChesney Cole. A lifelong area resident she was a graduate of West Winfield High School with the class of 1939. On October 21, 1939 she was united in marriage with Donald Pratt.They made their home in Richfield Springs where they shared a loving union offorty-two years untilMr. Pratt predeceased her on April 3, 1982. Both Arlene and Donald were a part of the Greatest Generation.Since the age of ten Arlene found herself involved with the newspaper delivery business. First helping her brothers, Roy and Melvin with their newspaper routes and as she got older had route of her own.Later she found that her teenage working experience was to become a big help to her husband Donald who was a motor route manager for the Utica Observer Dispatch. Whenever he was sick, she would easily step in and take over his duties.Most signifantly, she took over his job the years he was away serving our country during World War II. Together they delivered the paper for more than thirty-seven years. Mrs. Pratt had a strong belief in God and was a member of the Church of Christ Uniting in Richfield Springs for over sixty years To all who knew her she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.She was a lady with a unique sense of community. Arlene was a member of the Richfield Springs American Legion Auxiliary for more than forty years where she held many offices, a member of the ABCs Quilt Group at the Church of Christ Uniting, for sixteen years was a leader with the Herkimer County 4-H, and a member of the Richfield Springs Senior Citizens where she served as treasurer and trip leader and was active in promoting fund raising events.Mrs. Pratt took great pride in her honorary membership with the Hudson-Essex Car Club. Arlene will always be remembered as a loving, caring and hopeful person who was happiest when she was surrounded by a lifetime of many friends and family especially her cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren.She will be greatly missed. Surviving are one son, William K Pratt and his wife Nancy of Palm City, FL, two daughters and their husbands, Dona and Roland Dalton of Marcellus, Dayle and Robert Evans of Springfield Center, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.Besides her parents and husband Donald she was preceded in death by two brothers, Roy and Melvin Cole, one sister Nina Bailey, her close friend of seventy years Dorothy Gravelding and a grandson Roderick Dalton who died this past November. A memorial service will be held on Saturday February 26th at 1:00 pm in the Church of Christ Uniting, Richfield Springs.The Reverend Deborah Waldron, pastor will officiate.The family will be present in the church hall immediately after the service to receive relatives and friends.Interment will take place later this spring in the East Winfield Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Richfield Springs Volunteer Fire Department or the Richfield Springs Emergency Rescue Squad. Envelopes will be available at the church service. Funeral arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, Richfield Springs.