​​

 

Mary, Alice’s daughter, wrote this biopic of her mother.  Enjoy!

 

Alice McGinnis was born July 24, 1916, in Little York, IN, Washington County located in southern Indiana. She had 8 brothers and sisters and graduated from Little York High School at age 16.

​

In 1935 she married Hobart. They were married 51 years before his passing in 1986. In 1945 they purchased a farm in the northern section of Washington Co. Hobart and Alice had two children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Alice was a homemaker and helped with farming duties when needed. In 1963 she worked for Bata Shoe Co. in  the nearby town of Salem, IN. for about 9 years before retiring.

 

When Alice was in her early 70's she took Art classes that were offered at the local  high school in Salem. She continued painting landscapes and pictures of flowers, she also loved to paint her own note cards to send to friends and family.  One of her greatest joys in the past few years has been painted Christmas cards to give to her Meals on Wheels volunteers.  When in her 80's she took a college course offered through Indiana University at the local high school. The course was Literature of the Western World.  She earned a B+ and was very proud of herself as it was a demanding course.

 

Alice was a member of a writing organization called Writer's Bloc. The group of storytellers met monthly at the local library and each month they would bring stories they had written to share with the other members for enjoyment and critiquing.  One of the group members asked her to help edit and provide feedback on  a book he was working on. The Hole credits Alice's efforts in its acknowledgments. It was one of her most cherished honors.

 

A few other organizations and activities she participated in:

87-year long member of Eastern Star, Washington Co. Art Guild, a member of Salem Presbyterian Church, volunteered for the Red Cross Blood Bank, the local museum, and the used bookstore for a library. She also took a quilting class and made several quilts for her children.

One of her favorite memories was fulfilled on her 100th birthday by crossing the Big Four Bridge. The bridge is a former railroad truss bridge that crosses the Ohio River, connecting Louisville, KY, and Jefferson, IN. In 1895 the bridge was built and was taken out of service in 1968. Alice and Hobart often drove from Salem to Louisville and would see the dilapidated railroad bridge. In 2014 the bridge structure was replaced with a walking bridge and Alice vowed she would walk that bridge someday. On July 24, 2015, arrangements were made for her to get a golf cart from the City of Louisville, and accompanied by 75 family members and friends she got her wish. She was a local celebrity that day and loved the attention of the Louisville-area media. Alice was featured on the local TV stations that evening, and that was her first TV interview in 100 years!

 

Alice lived in her own home in Salem until age 99 where she tended to her garden and her favorite Fall pass time of raking leaves. She also loved working the   daily crossword puzzle, playing cards and dominoes with her neighbors and friends, writing in her daily journal, and, of course, painting.  Due to failing eyesight, she moved to Indianapolis to live with her daughter. Her favorite pass time now is listening to Books on Tape provided by Indiana Talking Book Library, listening to Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, and keeping up on the local and national news.

 

A few years ago, one of her nephews asked what she contributed her longevity to, she responded, "I never get in a hurry".