Alice Lucille Bowen Johnston was born Sept.13,1931 to James Corbley and Ruby (Smith) Bowen in Maloy, Iowa. She later moved to Benton, Iowa where Alice attended Benton school where she graduated as valedictorian of her Senior class. She also participated playing on the 6 on 6 high school girls basketball team.
After graduation she worked at the Gunter Jewelry store in Mt. Ayr, IA and the Bedford Café in Bedford, Iowa where she met and fell in love with Thomas T(Tim) Johnston and would marry on June 18,1950. Alice then started her numbers career (bookkeeping) at the Johnston Motor Co. in Mt. Ayr, Iowa until 1961 when the family moved to Fort Madison, Iowa where she went to work in the Production Control Office of Sheaffer Pen Corp. for over 30 years, retiring in 1993. Tim and Alice celebrated 37 years of marriage until Tim's death in 1988.
Alice enjoyed the opportunity to spoil her grandsons in their early years and loved watching their sports and activities. Her house on Oak Drive was a stopping place for her grandsons, nieces and nephews and their friends to gather. Being #5 of 12 children and with 25 nieces and nephews gave her opportunity to be involved in many family events and celebrations.
In later years she enjoyed traveling with family and friends and her Friday nights at the casino; as well as watching sporting events on TV. She also enjoyed her daily phone calls from her surviving siblings. Alice still insisted on balancing her checkbook with only pencil and paper.
She is survived by one son Thomas T. “Ted” Johnston Jr. and wife Joan of Ft. Madison; grandsons Todd Johnston (Rachel Hodges) of Murrells Inlet, S.C. and Nicholas (Kate) Johnston of Bloomington, IL; great granddaughters Emma Olson, Maddie and Mia Johnston; siblings Mickey Routh of Mt. Ayr, IA, Joe (Alice) Bowen of Iowa City, IA and Sandy Hulett of Osage Beach Mo; also, numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Annie Haley, Sally Pratte, Katie Butler, Jean Herrington and Belle Graham; brothers, James, Jr. “Bobby”, Larry Bowen, and Jerry “Oscar” Bowen.
Per her wishes, cremation has been entrusted to King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. The memorial service will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 1:30 PM at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory with Rev. John Simpson officiating. The family will meet with friends from 12:30 PM until the time of service. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in her memory and online condolences may be left at www.kinglynk.com
