Alice Rutledge McKinney, age 91, passed away of natural causes on March 19, 2020 in Eugene, OR after a long, exceptional life.
Alice was an inquisitive intellectual, accomplished artist, avid reader, walker, choral singer, graphics designer, wildflower and bird enthusiast (leading hikes in The Glen Helen), social activist, and champion for civil rights.
Alice was a very friendly, caring person with a wonderful listening ear and quick sense of humor. Alice loved her family and her community. She lived a life of integrity, kindness, courage, compassion and love of art, knowledge and the outdoors.
Born May 13, 1928 in Fort Dodge, Iowa on the family-owned, 505-acre Riverledge Dairy Farm (the first farm in the US to have electricity in 1912), she was third daughter of Reyburn Lorenzo Rutledge and Mabel Mears Rutledge.
She graduated from Fort Dodge High School and Grinnell College (’52), where she met and married Edward (Ed) Curtis McKinney in 1952. Ed and Alice enjoyed living in many towns across the USA, and settled in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1975 when Ed was hired as the Yellow Springs Superintendent of Schools.
Alice worked at the Yellow Springs Library and served as President of the Yellow Springs Library Association. She then opened her own business, alice mckinney graphics, located in downtown Yellow Springs.
After Ed’s death in 1993, the Middle School was renamed the McKinney School at a dedication ceremony in 1994. Alice remained in Yellow Springs, sold her business and after retirement, she worked several years as the Yellow Springs News proofreader.
Alice loved Yellow Springs. She was very active in the community volunteering for Yellow Springs Chamber Music, AACW (African American Cultural Works), Senior Citizens, Glen Helen Association, Friends Care Community, Yellow Springs Community Foundation, Yellow Springs Endowment for Education, Antioch College, active member of CASH and member of the P.E.O. (Philanthropic Education Organization) Sisterhood for 72 years.
There are four family stones in the Yellow Springs Women’s Park, one of which is for her Grandmother Carrie Coffin Rutledge who was a leader in the Women’s Suffrage movement. One of Alice’s many joys was being able to be a member of the racially diverse congregation at the First Presbyterian Church of Yellow Springs.
In 2011, Alice moved to Terre Haute, Indiana to join her older sister, Ann Hartman, as a resident of Westminster Village, a continuing care community. Ann passed away at the age of 96 in November 2018. In September 2019, Alice moved across the country to Eugene, OR to be near her son and his family.
Alice is survived by her four children, Ruth McKinney (CO), Ann McKinney (CA), Jean Wangrud (Nolan) (MI) and Curtis McKinney(Julia Rogers) (OR); six grandchildren, Amy Lowe (Matt) , Kevin Rosser (Rachel), Stuart Rosser, Hilary Adkins (Dane), Noah McKinney and Galen McKinney ; two great grandchildren, Gareth and Kameron Rosser; and many nieces and nephews. In addition, she has four step grandchildren and nine step great grandchildren with Jean and Nolan Wangrud. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward McKinney, her parents and her three sisters, Jean Lawhon, Ann Hartman and Mary Butzier.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date and details will be shared when available. Alice’s cremains will be buried in the Yellow Springs Forest Glen Cemetery beside her husband, Ed McKinney. Donations in memory Alice McKinney’s name to the Ed and Alice McKinney fund though the Yellow Springs Foundation. Donations to the fund will be distributed to the Glen Helen Foundation. Details can be found at aspenmortuaries.com