Alice Alberta Hols, 93, of Oskaloosa and formerly of rural Eddyville, died Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa. She was born April 22, 1931, in rural Eddyville, the daughter of Albert and Alice “Ealen” Murphy Newell. She graduated from Eddyville High School with the class of 1949. She continued her education and trained as an X-Ray and Lab Technician. She worked as a Tech. until 1981. At that time, she returned to school and earned her Associate Degree in Nursing in 1983. She worked as a Registered Nurse in many health care facilities over the years. Last she worked at the VA Hospital in Knoxville, retiring from there after many years of service. In retirement she studied for and earned her CDL and went on to drive semi with her husband Wayne for a few years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Rebekah Lodge #1 in Bloomfield, Iowa. Alice took great pride in keeping up the farm in southern Mahaska County that she and Wayne lived on for many years. She always had a large vegetable garden, her strawberry patch was second to none in the county, and she enjoyed growing wildflowers on their property. She and Wayne worked hard to keep the lawn and buildings always looking nice.
She was united in marriage to Charles Wilson Hunter on December 9, 1953, in Des Moines, Iowa. To this union five children were born. Alice and Charles later divorced. On December 11, 1981, she was united in marriage to (Lester) Wayne Hols in Memphis, Missouri.
She is survived by her five children, Mark (Sherrie) Hunter of Jacksonville, Missouri, Marla (Randy) Cowell of Smithville, Missouri, Matthew Hunter of Delta, Iowa, Myron Hunter of Martinsville, Missouri, and Mitchell (Kathleen) Hunter of Meeker, Oklahoma; five step children, Carl Hols of Tama, Christine Fiscus of Eugene, Oregon, Marcia (Steve) Roozeboom of Oskaloosa, Terry Hols of Tama, Iowa, and Joanna (Brad) Van Baale of Bradenton, Florida; 24 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband Lester Wayne Hols on June 17, 2017; her parents; a grandson, Trevor Cowell; six brothers, Charles, Chester, Clyde, Cloyd, Carl, and Carroll Newell; a sister, Nadine Armbruster.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with Pastor Sheri Locke officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery at Eddyville. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family will be at the funeral chapel on Wednesday evening from 5-7 to greet friends and relatives.
