DATE: Monday, March 3, 1997                 TAG: 9703030007

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: COURTLAND                         LENGTH:   34 lines

RUTH PRATT

Ruth Pratt, 81, of Country Club Road, died March 2, 1997, after a prolonged illness.

She was born in Suffolk, the first daughter of the late Joseph S. and Maude Harrell Pratt. Miss Pratt was educated in the Suffolk public schools and majored in accounting at Lasalle University. She worked in Suffolk until World War II, taking a leave of absence to volunteer for active military duty. She was credited with being the first female of this area to volunteer for active military duty; however, she frequently questioned this credit. She became a member of the Army Air Force and was assigned to the fort at Harlingen, Texas. After the war, she again worked in Suffolk, but later returned to the Air Force as a civilian employee. She worked as an accountant at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk until her retirement.

During her years in Suffolk, she faithfully cared for her mother, to whom she was most devoted, and was an active member of the First Baptist Church. Because of her illness, she moved to Franklin to be close to the remaining members of her family.

Survivors include a sister, Betty P. Roberts of Courtland; a brother, Joseph V. Pratt of Franklin; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Harrell Pratt and a sister, Agnes P. Davis.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, by the Rev. Charles W. Thompson and the Rev. D. Gwynn Davis Jr. The family will receive friends at Betty and Jim Roberts' residence, 30153 Country Club Road, Courtland. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, 237 N. Main St., Suffolk, Va. 23434. Wright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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