Alice Luella (Wiley) Heath of Anderson, Indiana passed away surrounded by her family when metastatic breast cancer took her life on February 5, 2019. Despite the cancer, her smile never dimmed. She lived graciously and courageously until the very end.
Alice was the sixth of eight children born to Albert & Miriam (Reeder) Wiley on November 29, 1937 in Florence, Indiana. She was raised in a loving home overlooking the Ohio River. While still in high school, she met her future husband.
She also knew she wanted to have a career in nursing. After graduating high school in 1955, she received a scholarship to nursing school and moved to Lexington, Kentucky to pursue her nursing education at the Appalachian School of Nursing. Immediately after the graduation ceremony, Gene proposed to her and they were married at the Church of Christ at Florence in Florence, Indiana on November 25, 1956.
Alice had a passion for nursing. After moving with Gene to Anderson, Indiana in 1959, she worked at St. John’s Hospital and then helped to open Community Hospital in 1962. Most of the time, she worked at Community in the newborn nursery, which she loved.
She worked at Community until her retirement after 31 years of service. After retirement, she enjoyed traveling and visiting her family. She continued to work as a volunteer at the hospital until her illness made it too difficult.
Besides loving her family, she also loved going to church, the Highland High School Band, the Cincinnati Reds, camping and traveling all over the world with Gene. A large part of that travel was by motorcycle. Alice was a member of the Anderson First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Robert, Norman and Ivan; sisters, Winnifred, Joyce and Mary K. Left to cherish her memory are: her husband of 62 years, Elbert Eugene “Gene” Heath; children, Terry (Janice) Heath, Tamera (Ron) Veverka, Timothy (Terri) Heath; 6 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; a sister, Alberta Pickett, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Services will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 4:00pm at Loose Funeral Homes and Crematory, 200 West 53rd Street, Anderson, IN 46013 officiated by Dr. Art Jaggard and Rev. Barton Howard.
Visitation will be 2 hours prior to the service. Burial will take place in East Maplewood Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Church of Christ at Florence, 502 Hill Road, Florence, IN 47020.
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