Alice Joan (Strong) Hose

Alice Joan (Strong) Hose, age 99, passed away October 24, 2024 at Lutheran Hospital, Ft. Wayne from complications following a perforated ulcer. Alice lived 78 years on her family farm south of Butler. Her husband of 56 yrs., Ralph, was a livestock-grain farmer as well as a professional logger. Ralph worked for a timber enterprise owned by Harry Strong, Alice’s twin. Some logging jobs took them as far away as Lawrenceburg near the Ohio River, where native trees still grow.

Alice was a speedy, determined laborer. Between juggling driving tractors in the fields, gardening, canning and domestic chores, she had various part-time jobs: Sechler’s Pickles, Green Parrot Restaurant, Auburn Floral & Creations, etc. Around 1958, she accepted a full-time job at Marshall’s Clothing followed by 16 years at Crane Edmond and then 18 years at FoamEx. Alice retired in 1993 at age 68.

No matter what menial tasks Alice performed, her main goal was to serve as an evangelist. For about 32 years and while still working, Alice alternated between being Sunday School Teacher, Junior Church Leader, and Wednesday Night Instructor for the youth at Coburn Corners Church of Christ.

After retirement, Alice’s ministry field expanded. Alice spent 12 summers as Dorm Mom at Lake James Christian Assembly. She brought several campers to the Lord, baptizing some herself. For 12 yrs. (until she was 88), Alice served as Hydration Specialist at Laurels of DeKalb. For about 25 years, Alice hand-made around 55 cards each Valentine’s Day to personally deliver to each Laurels resident.

While at Laurels, Alice kept Minister Dale Rabineau on call to transport repentant believers (to whom Alice had witnessed) from Laurels to Christ’s Church. Dale would hear the believer’s confession of faith in Christ, then he would baptize this dear one into Christ.

To help in her Christian witness, and throughout Alice’s adult life, she kept a rubber doll about 2 ½ inches long and a clear glass in her purse to enact what happens to a convert during baptism. It is not that the water saves, she would add, but that obedience to God’s plan of salvation via immersion is God’s command to all.  

Many children, youth, fellow workers, friends, and the elderly received Alice’s witness to accept the Lord in Christian baptism to wash away their sins through Christ’s blood, to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and to give each respondent eternal life in Heaven. Baptism, as explained in Acts 2:38, was Alice’s main witness verse. Indeed, as Alice explained, baptism is the New Covenant (or contract): involving an offer, an acceptance and a completion task (baptism) by the believer.   

Alice is the last remaining member of her generation from her Strong family of seven [Lloyd, Blanche Cook, Grant, Harry (Alice’s twin), June Brown and Coral Steckley] as well from the Hose family of six (Viola Houser, Wilbur, Ralph, Harold, Grace Gillespie and Herbert). In addition to losing her siblings and in-laws, Alice’s husband, Ralph Waldo Hose, passed away April 27, 2000. A son, Galen, passed away September 20, 2018. A Daughter-in-Law (son Wendell’s wife) Lynette Longnecker Hose passed away April 3, 2016.

Alice is survived by her daughter, Joann (husband, Louis) Phillips and by her son, Wendell. Many will miss Alice, as she was a loving sister, aunt, mother, wife, grandmother and friend. For certain, her 8 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren will sincerely grieve her.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 1, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 at the Feller & Clark Funeral Home, 1860 South Center Street in Auburn.  Additional visitation will be held on Saturday morning one hour prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the funeral home. 

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at funeral home with Minister Davon Huss, Alice’s grandson, officiating.  

Burial will take place at the Riverview Cemetery in Newville.

Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lake James Christian Assembly, 1880 W 275 N., Angola, Indiana 46703. 

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.fellerandclark.com and on our Facebook page at Feller and Clark Funeral Home.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Feller and Clark Funeral Home of Auburn.

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