07/30/2025
Alice Marie Plasterer (Jacobs) Stickler, 99, of Huntington, Indiana, passed away at her home on Friday, July 25, 2025, after a lifetime of devotion and service to her family and friends, church and community. Anyone who knew her was inspired by her boundless energy, zest for life and loving nature.
She was born in Huntington on June 20, 1926, the oldest child of parents Eiffel Gray Plasterer (1899-1989) and Inez Marie (Burgett) Plasterer (1901-1988). Seven years later her brother William Eiffel Plasterer (1931-1997) joined the family.
She was married twice, first to Robert LaVerne Jacobs at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntington, Indiana, on July 25, 1958 until his death on September 11, 1971. Then, later to Delvia Washington Stickler on April 23, 1992, in North Webster, Indiana, until his death on December 2, 2002.
She had two daughters from her first marriage, Mrs. Robert (Patricia) Simmons of Long Beach, California (1944-2025), and Mrs. Robert (Juanita) Schaefer of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and three stepdaughters from her second marriage, Mrs. Dan (Marjoria) Dafforn of Fort Wayne, Indiana (1938-2024), Mrs. Ron (Jane) Helzerman of Riverdale, Michigan, and Mrs. Larry (Judith) Park of LaVista, Nebraska. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Mrs. Dave (Shannon Schaeffer) Haefner and Mrs. Mike (Laurie Schaeffer) Horne.
In addition to her parents, brother, husbands, daughter and stepdaughter, she was also preceded in death by her brother’s wife Evelyn E. (Goodrich) Plasterer, nephew Robert D. Plasterer, and niece Christine E. (Plasterer) Scher.
She is also survived by nephew and niece-in-law Edward and Teresa (Tackett) Plasterer, nephew and niece-in-law William and Nan (Goldberg) Plasterer, and nephew-in-law and niece Wesley (Amanda Plasterer) Hosier, as well as 12 great-nieces/great-nephews, plus 13 great-great-nieces/great-great-nephews and 5 great-great-great nieces/great-great-great nephews.
Alice graduated from Huntington High School in 1944, and from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1948 with a major in mathematics and chemistry. She was always learning, and enjoyed bible study, music, reading, history, gardening, birding, animals, travel, antique and vintage cars, raising Monarch butterflies, watching sports, and especially connecting with family and friends from around the world. She also cared for several treasured pets over the years, the last two being two littermate cats, Timmy and Thumbelina.
She worked for many years in various jobs for the United Methodist Church, both at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntington and then later alongside her first husband for the UMC denomination. She was a devoted lifetime member of Trinity United Methodist Church and over the years participated in their choir and bell choir, as well as serving on numerous church committees and on the church preschool board. She also played the Trinity bell tower chimes for over 70 years and was the church historian, actively serving in both capacities until her death.
She also was an accomplished bubble artist performing around the country on her own with her Alice’s Fun With Bubbles show, and assisting her father with his pioneering bubble performances before that. In that capacity, she and her father made appearances several times on national television on Late Night With David Letterman and the Dick Cavett and Tom Snyder shows, among others. She was an honored member of the Association of International Bubble Artists and made the trip with a friend to attend their convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2024. She performed her final bubble show in May of this year for the Trinity UMC Preschool.
Though she, her parents and brother lived in town, her early life was spent helping on her grandparents’ farm in Huntington County on Division Road. Later when her parents moved to the farm after her grandparents’ deaths, she helped with producing sorghum molasses, with antique steam engine and thrashing demonstrations, and other chores. She loved her time on the farm.
She was a member of the Samuel Huntington Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for 79 years, first attending with her grandmother, and was still regularly attending meetings. Over her time in the DAR, she served as Regent (twice), Registrar, Treasurer (for many years), and at different times chairman of the Scholarship, Conservation, Schools, and Good Citizen Committees. She attended the DAR Continental Congress in Washington, D.C., three times.
There were other many clubs and activities, too, including volunteering in the gift shop at the Forks of the Wabash during school tours, helping with the Huntington Pioneer Festival and participating in the Huntington Chapter of the TOPS Club. She had been a member of the Huntington Theatre Guild over the years, and the Sunday before her death attended one of their plays with a friend. That same week she had supper with friends and toured the exhibits at the Huntington County 4-H Fair. And, in May of this year, she made a trip with friends to see The Ark Experience in Kentucky, something that had been on her bucket list.
A memorial service for Alice will be held at the Trinity UMC, 530 Guilford Street, Huntington, Indiana, on Saturday, August 2. Calling is from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. with the service immediately following at 2:00 pm. The service will also be livestreamed with a link available on the church’s website ( https://tumchuntington.org ).
Officiate for the memorial service will be the Trinity UMC pastor Shalimar Holderly. A a coffee hour and refreshments will be provided by the church membership following the memorial service.
Alice’s cremation and arrangements are being handled by Myers Funeral Home, Huntington Chapel, online condolences may be offered at www.myersfuneralhomes.com.
Over the years Alice faithfully supported a wide variety worthy causes too numerous to mention individually. For those who wish to do so, charitable donations may be made in Alice’s name to the Trinity United Methodist Church music department, the Trinity United Methodist Church preschool, or the Huntington County History and Education Center.g
