Shrewsbury – Alvin L. Pratt, 93, a resident of Shrewsbury for over 60 years, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, in Memorial Hospital.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Mary A. (Verdini) Pratt; two daughters, Paula P. Renkas and her husband Richard of Franklin and Sandra P. Stratton of Derry, N.H.; three grandchildren, Brett Stratton of Goffstown, N.H., Peter Stratton and his wife Brenna of Fort Wayne, Ind. and Jaclyn Stratton of Appleton, Maine; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Ernest and Howard Pratt.
Alvin was born Nov. 14, 1920 in Buckland, son of the late Rufus A. and Lizzie (Goodnow) Pratt. He graduated in 1940 from Arms Academy in Shelburne, and later enlisted in the United States Navy. He served his nation proudly for six years, during World War II. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre.
Alvin married the love of his life, Mary, in May 1950, and together they settled in Shrewsbury, where they raised their family.
He was a machinist at Wyman-Gordon Company for over 30 years, before retiring in 1982. He was a member of Saint Anne's Church, the VFW Post 10278, and the Greendale Retired Men's Club. He also kept active in local government by serving as a Town Meeting Member for many years. He was an avid trout fisherman and was a hunter; he loved being in the woods.
Calling hours for Alvin will be held Friday, April 4, from 5 – 8 p.m., in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. His funeral will be held Saturday, April 5 from the funeral home, with a Mass at 11:30 a.m. in Saint Anne's Church, 120 Boston Turnpike Rd. (Route 9 east), Shrewsbury. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery of Shrewsbury.
