Alice Kathryn Pullin

Alice Kathryn Pullin, 92, went peacefully to be with her Lord on February 11, 2019 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alice was born on June 2, 1926 in Nebaj, Guatemala in Central America. She was the middle daughter of missionaries, Thomas and Flora Pullin.

Alice spent most of her youth in Guatemala, interspersed with several years in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania when her parents were on furlough in the US.  Alice attended Westervelt, a school in South Carolina for children of missionaries.  Westervelt had a rigorous work-study program where she did two years of high school and learned to drive a tractor.  The Church of God Mission’s secretary moved her to BTS in Sevierville, Tennessee, where she finished high school and her first two years of college.  There she was recognized for her extraordinary academic abilities.  She then enrolled in Vanderbilt University where she earned her bachelor’s degree, majoring in Spanish.

She then accepted a position with the Church of God Publishing House where she edited Spanish publications.  She held that position for several years, and after she left, the Director of the facility said he had to hire three persons to try to replace her.

At the North Cleveland Church of God she was the star actress in several mission plays and was an extraordinary speaker at church services and taught the Hadassa Class, a large Sunday School class that funded the building of a church in Guatemala, Central America.

One interesting fact that happened in Cleveland was that Alice accepted a date with a medical student from Vanderbilt University arranged by Richard Morehead on a Christmas Eve. She introduced Richard to her sister Martha who had come from Emory University Nursing School for the holidays.  The four of them spent a great evening together, and Martha and Richard have been married for all these years.

Alice left her Publishing House position to attend Wheaton University where she earned her master’s degree.  There she met Maryann Griffiths who became her lifelong friend.   After graduation they left to teach Bible to students after school in local churches.  While doing that job, they attended Butler University where they earned teaching certificates.  Maryann accepted a teaching position with the Indianapolis school system, and Alice accepted a position in the Warren Township system.  Alice spent her entire teaching career as a Spanish language educator, first at the junior high school and then at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis.  She served as chairman of the foreign language department for many years.  Her career was distinguished, developing the state curriculum for Spanish education as well as being a test writer for national Spanish language testing.  Alice and Maryann attended the University of Wisconsin for several summers where they earned advanced degrees.

Alice made Indianapolis, Indiana her home essentially for the rest of her life, moving to Birmingham only in April 2018 to live with her family after the death of her best friend and house mate, Maryann Griffiths.

Wallace Street Evangelical Church in Indianapolis was her home church for over 50 years. She served the church body in many areas including teaching Sunday School classes, supporting and promoting international missions, and in hospitality through the many meals and celebrations where her gourmet cooking took center stage. Alice and Maryann’s crowning achievements each December were their 20 different homemade Christmas cookies lovingly created for their families and friends.

Alice Pullin is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Martha and Richard Morehead;  her nieces:  Karen (Ben) Judkins and Shawn Morehead;  her nephews:  Stephen (Jannuth) Carroll and Scott (Tammy) Morehead;  her great nieces:  Lauren Carroll, Elizabeth (Allen) Glass, and Elena Morehead;  her great nephews:  Matthew (Melissa) Mundy, Ryan (Jessica) Mundy, Andrew (Nicole) Mundy, Tomas Morehead and Will Morehead as well as nine great great nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her sister Dorothy and brother-in-law Luther Carroll.

Funeral services will be held at Metropolitan Church of God at 2pm on Saturday, February 16, 2019 with visitation from 1-2pm preceding the service.  Everyone is welcome to attend.