Alice M. Bixler, 86, formerly of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at her residence at Hoosier Village Retirement Community in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was born Alice May Yost, June 11, 1923, in Decatur, Indiana, the daughter of Ida (Liby) Yost and Calvin L. Yost who preceded her in death. On September 25th, 1954 she married Dr. James Bixler. He preceded her in death July 21, 1997. A brother, Robert L. Yost, also preceded her in death. Two sisters"in-law, Betty (McComb) Yost of Fort Wayne and Henrietta (Bixler) Augsburger of Berne, Indiana survive. She raised three children who survive, Sarah Bixler of Fishers, Indiana, Matthew Bixler of Denver, Colorado, and Martha Milligan (Tom) of Sidney, Ohio. Four grandchildren Samuel and Meredith Bixler and Amanda and Calvin Milligan also survive her. Mrs. Bixler was a 1941graduate of Decatur High School where she excelled in academics and music and was the drum major of the only all girl band in the state of Indiana, at that time. She attended Western College for Women (now part of Miami University of Ohio) and graduated from Indiana University having majored in business. After graduation she worked for several years in retail in Ft. Wayne, Florida, and Indianapolis and also taught elementary education in the Adams County schools. After her marriage to Dr. Bixler she dedicated herself to raising her family and volunteer activities in the Fort Wayne community. She was a member and active in the Plymouth Congregational Church. She was also a member and frequently held leadership roles in numerous civic and social organizations in Fort Wayne, Clear Lake (Indiana), and Isles of Capri (Naples), Florida, including PEO, Tri Delta Sorority, the Panhellenic Society, Fort Wayne Medical Auxiliary, Clear Lake Yacht Club, and the Fort Wayne Art Museum. During their retirement years, she and Dr. Bixler divided their time between their homes on Clear Lake and the Isles of Capri. She returned to Ft. Wayne in 1998, following the death of her husband. She resided at Townehouse Retirement Home in Ft. Wayne for a number of years before relocating to Hoosier Village in 2008. Her friends and family will especially miss her for her keen business sense, her wry sense of humor, her love of animals, books and art, and her deft card playing skills. Her family will fondly remember her membership in the Emil Schultz Card Club . A private internment will be held at the cemetery in Decatur. Family will be receiving friends at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Wayne on October 4th from 2:30pm to 4:00pm with a Memorial Service immediately following. Memorial gifts are preferred, in lieu of flowers, and can be made to: Plymouth Congregational Church, 501 West Berry Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Condolences may be sent to: Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, 520 North Second Street, Decatur, Indiana 46733 or www.zwickjahn.com.
