Alvina Struble

Alvina Struble, age 93, of Kalamazoo, formerly of Battle Creek for more than 60 years, passed away Monday, April 27, 2015 at New Friend Assisted Living, in Kalamazoo after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  She was born on January 5, 1922, in Nordheim, (DeWitt County) Texas the daughter of Henry and Martha (Belitz) Harms, Sr.  After graduating in 1940 from Nordheim (Texas) High School, Alvina began her career, alongside her identical twin sister, Anita, for the Southwest Bell Telephone Co. in San Antonio, TX.   In 1945, at the end of World War II, she transferred to Michigan Bell Telephone Co. in Battle Creek and worked there until she retired in 1983 as Maintenance Administrator.  On February 7, 1947, she married Robert D. Struble of Battle Creek.  She was a member of the CWA Communications Workers of America Union, Battle Creek Traveler’s Club, and a life member of AT&T Pioneers Volunteer Network.  Alvina was active at Trinity Lutheran Church where she served on Altar Guild, participated in Ruth Circle, and helped provide many church and community services. Alvina & Robert enjoyed lots of US travel time and spent time with their grandchildren, Matthew & Colleen Snyder.  Alvina’s hobbies included needlepoint, embroidery, quilting and floral arranging.   She enjoyed many years of planting and canning fruits and vegetables at the “4 Acres” alongside Robert, her twin Anita, and Anita’s husband Raymond.  Alvina’s favorite activities included baking cookies, cakes and zucchini bread for her grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert, sisters Ida Harms (Nordheim), Elsie Baumann (Nordheim), Esther Kniefel (Yorktown) brother, Henry Harms, Jr. (Floresville) and brother-in-law Ray Struble (Battle Creek).  Surviving are daughters Diane M. Snyder of Kalamazoo and Rebecca (Tony) Aimone of Tinley Park, IL, grandchildren Matthew (Lexie) Snyder of Kalamazoo and Colleen (Jason) Malocha of Scotts, 6 great-grandchildren, and her twin sister Anita Struble of Battle Creek plus many nieces and nephews in Michigan, Texas and Missouri. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Richard A. Henry Funeral Home, 703 Capital Ave., SW, Battle Creek.  A celebration of Alvina’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2055 E. Columbia Ave., Battle Creek, with Rev. Kjersten Priddy officiating.  A Mausoleum Graveside Service will immediately follow at Memorial Park Cemetery and a return to Trinity Lutheran Church to greet friends, family and share memories and a luncheon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church.  Messages of Condolence to the family may be left online at www.henryfuneralhome.org.

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