Alice Mae Leary Larson

Alice was born on January 7, 1920, in Omaha, NE and was the only child of Gena Josephine (Bredesen) Leary and James Patrick Leary. She spent most of her life in the Midwest and attended high school and college in Madison, WI. It was at Madison East High that she first met Harold Paul Larson who won her heart. They were married on July 4, 1942, at Camp Wheeler, GA where Lt. Larson was on active duty.

Alice remained in Madison when Harold was deployed by the Norso Group of the OSS behind the German lines in Normandy and when he went to China during WWII.

When the war was over, Harold remained in the Army as a career officer, and Alice served as a devoted military wife. She accompanied him on two tours of duty to Germany and over a dozen other assignments throughout the US.

During those thirty years, they raised three daughters: Karen Marya Richardson, Kristin Ann Wheeler, and Kathryn Sue Anderson. Harold preceded Alice in death in 1998 as did their daughter, Karen, in 2006.

Her military life must have given her a passion for travel because prior to Harold’s passing they had traveled to over 36 countries. Alice continued these adventures to Russia, Australia and South Africa as a widow.

In 1959 Alice performed civic service for the Tuberculosis Health Association of Arlington, VA, and served as a social welfare aide in the American Red Cross in 1961 at Ft. Campbell, KY. In 1965 Alice completed the Medical Self Help Training Course at Ft. Sam Houston, TX and was the Newsletter Chairman for the Medical Services Women’s Club from 1968 to 1969 in Heidelberg, Germany. She contributed to the Joint Medical Service Corps and Army Medical Specialist Corps Training Conference in 1969 and in 1970 and also served as a volunteer for the American Red Cross while she was in Heidelberg. After completing the Army Community Service Volunteer Training Course in Denver, CO, Alice worked at Fitzsimons General Hospital until Harold’s retirement in 1972. She successfully completed the vocational requirements for the course in Real Estate Sales in 1973 from San Antonio College, and continued her volunteer services at Brooke Army Medical Center at Ft. Sam Houston, TX until 2005. Alice was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at Ft. Sam Houston Officers’ Wives’ Club. During those retirement years in San Antonio, Alice was active in her church, St. Pius X. She was a member of the Friends of Padua and the St. Faustina’s Divine Mercy Group, and volunteered as an aide for kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades at the MacArthur Park Lutheran Church/School in their neighborhood.

In 2006 Alice moved from the home she had lived in for 34 years in San Antonio and took up residence in the independent living community of Village on the Park in Friendswood, Texas.

Alice is survived by two daughters and their spouses: Kristin Ann Wheeler, (Todd Wheeler), and Kathryn Sue Anderson, (Lee Anderson), six grandsons, David Richardson, Sean Richardson, James (Bryan) Richardson, Benjamin Wheeler, Erik Wheeler, and Evan Anderson, two granddaughters, Kelly Kronfeld, Karen (Elizabeth) Richardson, four great grandsons, Konner Kronfeld, Cameron Richardson, Andrew Richardson, Benjamin (“Teddy”) Wheeler and four great granddaughters, Abigail Richardson, Gabriella Wheeler, Isabelle Wheeler, and Marya Richardson.