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Ronald Orvis Pritchard

EAST RANDOLPH — Ronald Orvis Pritchard, 92, of Southwestern Drive, Lakewood, N.Y., formerly of Williams Street, East Randolph, passed away at 11:30 p.m., Thursday (Oct. 17, 2019) in the UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa.

He was born Sept. 28, 1927, in New Albion, N.Y., the son of the late Harold B. and Alice A. (Berg) Pritchard.

Mr. Pritchard was a 1945 graduate of Cattaraugus High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving his country during World War II from Feb. 4, 1946 to July 5, 1947, with the rank of corporal. He also served during the Korean War era as a Tech Sgt. from Jan. 2, 1951 to Dec. 15, 1954. Ron received the World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal, Good Conduct and Commendation Ribbon.

Ron retired in 1990 from the U.S. Postal Service, where he had worked in Little Valley, N.Y., for 30 years, the last 10 years as Post Master and also concurrently was a self-employed electrical contractor and for Pritchard Hardware in Cattaraugus.

He attended the East Randolph United Methodist Church, his memberships included: past commander of Post 531 Little Valley American Legion, life member of the Little Valley Veteran of Foreign Wars, Post 8734, past president and exempt member of the Little Valley Fire Department and the Little Valley Rotary, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow recipient. He was also a member of the former Randolph Moose Lodge 2271. Ron enjoyed golfing, woodworking and antiquing.

He is survived by his wife, Marcia J. (Derby) Pritchard, whom he married on Aug. 15, 1987, in the Grace Episcopal Church in Randolph; three daughters: Penny (Greg) Osborne of Conway, S.C., Paige (Mike) Cross of Tyrone, Pa., and Patricia Hammond of Waverly, Ga.; three sons: Adam (Joan) Pritchard of Ann Arbor, Mich., Steven (Yvonne) Carr of Cazenovia, N.Y., and CW3 U.S. Army retired, Robert (Betty) Carr of Winchester, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren and 23 great- grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters: June A. Neal (2010) and Doris A. Wulf (2003); three brothers: Kenneth S. Pritchard (2001), Erwin M. Pritchard (1987) and Gerald L. Pritchard (2003). The family will receive family and friends from 6 – 8 p.m., Sunday (Oct. 20, 2019) in the VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home, 14 Church St., Randolph.

Funeral services will be held at 11a.m., Monday from the East Randolph United Methodist Church. The Rev. Chuck Smith will officiate. Burial will follow in the East Randolph Cemetery, where full military honors will be conducted by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts of Randolph and Little Valley.

To leave condolences, log on to www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome. com.

Memorials if desired, may be sent to the East Randolph United Methodist Church or to the Randolph Free Library.