Isabella G. Alexander

Isabella Gertrude Alexander lived life to the fullest as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend until she departed this world on September 30, 2022. She was born in Central Falls, RI to Gertrude & James Howard on March 30, 1923. Isabella married Ira W. Alexander in January 1946 and moved to Fort Worth, Texas in and then to Oklahoma City in 1948 before moving to Lindsay in 1956. Upon graduation from high school, she attended Brown University in Providence, RI, where she received her B.A. in Biology and Chemistry in 1944, graduating Cum Laude. Isabella then returned to school to pursue her Master’s in Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, graduating in 1972. She was a proud public-school educator at Lindsay for 23 years serving as the President of the Lindsay Educators Association. While serving as a public-school teacher, she served on the State Textbook Committees, North Central Evaluation teams, and the National Science Foundation Institutes to name just a few. She received the Teacher of the Year Award while a classroom teacher in Lindsay. She also served as the President of the Garvin County Retired Educators Association and as President of both Kappa Kappa Iota and Delta Kappa Gamma. Not only was Isabella an educator, she was a senior advocate on the state level serving on the State Council of Aging, the State Ombudsman Council, and the State Long Term Continuum of Care Task Force. She received the Outstanding Older Oklahoma and Ageless Heroes Award from Governor Mary Fallin in May 2001 for her continuous support for aging services. Her terms on the Silver-haired Legislature, Silver-haired Alumni Executive Board, and her service on the Southern Department of Aging (SODA) Board were the most satisfying experiences—she was always advocating for the retired individuals in the State of Oklahoma, especially in Garvin County. She served in some capacity as a senior advocate from 1994 until 2013. Her proudest time was the Senior Bus Service and the Lindsay Senior Nutrition Center. Everyone knows that Isabel spent many a lunch time at the Senior Center. In addition to her work with senior advocacy, she was a lover of the Arts. She actively served on the Lindsay Civic Arts Association as Events Chairman bringing quality entertainment to the community. She also served as an active member of the Lindsay Community Historical Society, as a member of the Lindsay Municipal Hospital Board, Lindsay Hospital Auxiliary, RSVP Volunteer, Lindsay Women’s Golf Association and as a board member of the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross. She was a docent for many years at the Lindsay Mansion. Isabel also served as a certified Medical Tech at Lindsay Memorial Hospital for many years. Isabella was very active in her church—St. Michaels Episcopal Church—as well as the State Diocesan Council on Mission Churches. She was always a delegate to Diocesan Convention to represent the mission churches in Oklahoma. She was active on the Altar Guild and was a devoted Sunday School teacher. Most of all, Isabella enjoyed playing Bridge and entertaining. She loved her bridge groups in Lindsay and if there is a bridge game going on in heaven, Isabella is there playing. She also loved going to the OKC Philharmonic. She also loved to travel. She visited as many countries as possible—Japan, China, Germany, England, to name just a few—and loved to go on cruises. In her earlier days, it was all about bowling at the Lindsay Lanes and playing gold at the Lindsay Golf Course. Isabella and Ira have two children, Wade James Alexander from Lindsay, and Gayle Alexander Buie and husband, Buddy, who currently reside in Muncie, IN. She was also fortunate to have 4 grandchildren—Gregory Alexander and granddaughters Ella and Sophie of Edmond, Kyla Alexander Tribble and Taylor of Edmond with granddaughters, Veyana, Lilian, Emery, and Mary Claire, Leslie Kearns of Oklahoma City, and Laura and Max Harvey with granddaughters Hannah and Molly of Lexington, MA. She had her extended family--Derek and Thea Cerjanec and children Elena and Aidan of Freeport Maine, and a nephew, Mack Odell Bennett of Waco and daughter Paige Franks of Houston, Texas and Robert Gee of Tyler, Texas. A Celebration of Life is scheduled at the United Methodist Church in Lindsay, OK, on October 21st, 10:30 a.m. with a celebration reception at the Lindsay Mansion following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations in her name to The Lindsay Senior Nutrition Center and/or The Lindsay Mansion. Services are under the direction of Scott & Angel Wilbourn of Wilbourn Family Funeral Home. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.wilbournfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Isabella G. Alexander

March 30, 1923 - September 30, 2022

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