Alice Elizabeth Saunders

Mrs. Saunders was born in 1927 in Indianapolis, Indiana to her parents Neil and Beatrice Waterbury. She spent most of her childhood in Alton, Illinois, an historic community on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Alice, her sister Ann, and both of her parents graduated from Purdue University. Her grandfather, Charles Jamison was an early promoter of basketball and was one of the first basketball coaches at Purdue. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and remained a life-long member.

In 1951 she married Philip (Phil) Saunders, a Purdue graduate, and moved to Toledo, Ohio where he worked at Owens-Illinois. In 1960 she assisted her husband in the creation of Container Graphics Corporation. Alice then went on to teach middle-school science and became a homemaker focused on raising her family; daughter Jamie and son Neil. She and Philip moved the corporate offices of Container Graphics Corporation to Cary, North Carolina in 1986 and took up residence there. After Philip passed in 2003 she moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Alice was passionate about knowing and seeing the world. After graduating from Purdue University she and a friend drove from Illinois to Mexico and back. She and Phil traveled extensively. When she was not traveling she was researching the history and culture of her next destination. She was also very interested in her Celtic roots and explored the far reaches of Scotland. Most importantly, she was always concerned about and involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving are her daughter, Jamie Gail Saunders of Pittsboro; son Neil Barbour Saunders and wife, Mary Lynn Saunders of Raleigh; grandchildren, Jason Adam Cooper, Jared Bryce Cooper, Kyle Gordon Cooper and, wife Leah Cooper, Graham Philip Saunders and, wife Caitlin Patricia Saunders and Arden Muir Saunders; great-grandchildren, Cole Addam Cooper, Camden Philip Cooper, Carson Robert Cooper, Liliana Grace Cooper, recently born Carolina Grace Cooper; and sister, Ann Phillippy of Tallahassee, Florida. She also leaves behind her dog Lulu, her constant companion.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Cedars of Chapel Hill, The Cedars of Chapel Hill Home Care and The DuBose Health Center for their care and support.

A memorial service will be held at 10am on Saturday, April 23rd in the ballroom at the Cedars of Chapel Hill, 100 Cedar Club Circle, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Sierra Club.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC.

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