Obituary of Alice Latimer Fuller

Alice Latimer Fuller, 94, of Pine Grove Mills, died Monday, May 7, 2018, at Juniper Village at Brookline.

Alice was born and grew up on a dairy farm near the town of Afton in upstate New York. Early on, wandering the farm she spotted her “spark-bird” - a Yellow-Rump Warbler. The rest was history –a life focused on observing, studying, and writing about birds.

Finishing high school in 1941 Alice pursued her passion for birds at Cornell University - as a student of the well-known ornithologist Dr. Allen. Graduating in 1946 armed with an M.S.in Wildlife Alice went West to become editor of “North Dakota Outdoors” – the state’s official fish and game magazine. She returned east to State College in 1950 as assistant-editor of the Pennsylvania State College Experiment Station – retiring in 1955 to marry Ted and raise a family.

Raising a family did not dim Alice’s enthusiasm for birds and birding. She was an early and long-time member of the State College Bird Club – engaging in field trips, bird counts and compiling input for two Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlases. Alice also conducted classes and field trips for non- (or not as yet) birders - nurturing a number of future avid birders – including daughter Roana and by default husband Ted. Alice also authored – with bird drawings by fellow birder Dorothy Bordner - the “Bird Column” which was featured for decades variously in the Centre Daily Times, the Clearfield Progress, and Voices of Central Pennsylvania.

Alice was also a long-time member of Altrusa International of State College, and St. Paul’s Methodist Church in State College.

Alice was born on July 2, 1923 in Afton, NY – daughter of the late Charles and Alice Dopp Latimer. She is survived by her husband Ted of 67 years, daughter Roana, sister-in-law Phebe Ann Johnson of Pittsboro. NC, and nine nieces and nephews widely dispersed in Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, California, and Michigan. Alice was preceded in death by a son, Eric Fuller on May 22, 1979 - and two brothers, Charles and Robert.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Eric Fuller Memorial Cross Country Award, Centre Community Foundation, 1377 Master Ridge Drive, State College, PA  16803, with Eric Fuller Memorial Cross Country Award noted on the memo line.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.