Arlene J. Colter died Tuesday at her home in Edgartown.

She was born in Lowell on September 9, 1924, the daughter of John H. and Alice S. Johnson.

She attended Lowell High School and Salem State College, where she was know affectionately as Johnny. After her graduation in 1945, she taught business subjects in Billerica.

She moved to the Vineyard in 1946 when an offer went out for three business teachers on the Island. She taught at both the Edgartown High School and the Tisbury High School.

When the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School opened in 1959, there were only two positions for business teachers and there were three teachers, so she chose to take the position of administrative assistant, working for both principal Charles Davis and superintendent Charles Downs. The post was supposed to be temporary until a third teacher was needed, but she loved the job and remained in it until retiring in 1979.

Arlene was given a room at the Great Harbour Inn (now the Kelley House) when she moved to the Vineyard. It was during that first winter here that she met her husband of 53 years, Richard I. Colter. They were married Jan. 4, 1947 in Lowell.

As a young woman, she was very involved with the Girl Scouts and she became a troop leader at the Girl Scout camp on the Vineyard.

Arlene was a member of the Federated Church in Edgartown, the Woman's Club of Edgartown, and for many years she was a member of a rug hooking group. She loved her involvement with the Martha's Vineyard Doll Club, of which she was one of the original members, and with the Martha's Vineyard Antiques Club. She also enjoyed her Thursday afternoon bridge games.

But her favorite group of all was her "Stitch & Bitch" club which meets every Wednesday afternoon at one of the members' house and where very little stitching takes place.

Arlene was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. Many have been touched by her giving and caring. She will be greatly missed by all.

Survivors include her daughter, Nancy-Alyce Abbott and her husband Brian W. Abbott of West Tisbury; her son, Richard I. Colter Jr. and his wife Deborah T. Colter of Edgartown; her four grandsons, Brian Jr. and his wife Jessica, Seth, Devin, and Kyle; her sister, Nancy A. Clarke of Edgartown; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard I. Colter.

An interment service will be held at the Tower Hill Cemetery in Edgartown at 2 p.m. today. A reception will follow at the American Legion Hall on Katama Road.

Donations may be made in her memory to the Vineyard Nursing Association for Pain Management, P.O. Box 2568, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.