Alice O. Curry

Mrs. Curry was born near Champaign, Illinois on December 3, 1944. She graduated from Unity High School and attended Indiana University, where she majored in music and was a member of the Singing Hoosiers and the Sigma Kappa Sorority. After graduation, she taught music in Illinois and Iowa before joining Xerox Corporation as one of their only female sales executives in the early 1970’s.

Alice moved to Columbus with her family in 1983 and soon became involved with the local arts scene. From 1987 through the end of 2010, she served as Executive Director of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, with the exception of two years (1996-1998) in which she was with the Asheville, North Carolina and Louisville, Kentucky Orchestras.

Alice was instrumental in the growth of the orchestra—from a small budget volunteer orchestra to a tremendously well-respected regional presence with a cadre of corporate sponsorships, a children’s choir and music for youth program.

Most recently, Curry served as a member of the planning committee for the re-opening of The Commons in downtown Columbus. She dedicated her final years to campaigning for comprehensive smoking ban laws in public buildings throughout Indiana.

Calling will be Wednesday, July 13 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Myers-Reed Chapel on 25th Street in Columbus. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 14 at St. George Lutheran Church in Edinburgh, Indiana at 11 a.m. The family welcomes visitors prior to the service from 10-11 a.m.

Survivors include her husband, Jerry S. Curry; her daughter Mara (Chris) Hoberty of Indianapolis; her son Brock (Lauren) Jolly of Arlington, Virginia; A step-daughter Catherine (Phil) Anderson of Louisville, Kentucky, and a step-son Josh Curry of Louisville, Kentucky; grandchildren Alexandra and Carson Hoberty, Hannah and David Curry and Summer Anderson. She is also survived by her brother, T. Michael (Jo Ann) O’Beirne, of Peoria, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Erville O’Beirne, and a brother John O’Beirne.

In lieu of flowers, it was Alice’s wish that contributions be made to the Alice O. Curry Endowed Chair at the Columbus, Indiana Philharmonic. Through this endowment, it was Alice’s hope that music and the arts continue to thrive throughout Columbus for many years in the future. The endowment is managed by the Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-reed.com