Local author and longtime Olds Albertan contributor Alice Cundiff died Dec. 11. She was 83.
Alice’s stories began gracing the pages of the Albertan shortly after the paper launched in 1993. Her stories ran the gamut – often sprinkled with humour. She shared her childhood, neighbours, school days, church, strong faith, holidays and the history of Olds.
Her interview with Alex Bird on the closing of Bird Electronics in 1996 after 60 years in business, chronicles his early life, move to Olds in 1934, and the successful evolution of his longtime business. Twenty-two years later, Alice reminds us of the importance of preserving our history.
Alice was always keen to tackle a historical assignment. She spent days researching her subject before she put her talented pen to paper. Her synopsis of Olds’ historical fires gave insight into the destructive power of fire and the indomitable spirit of our firefighters and townspeople.
When Shackleton insurance changed hands in 2001, Alice spent considerable effort researching the company’s history, including the Shackleton family. Her work shone.
Alice’s “My mother was a mechanic,” printed in the July 5, 1995 Olds Albertan is my favourite.
Alice described in beautiful, concise detail, the adventures of Lizzy – her mother’s 1927 Model T. She’d traded an Essex car for the Model T – then valued at $35.
Lizzy served the family well, providing safe year-round transportation. Lizzy’s engine, however, eventually grew tired and needed restoration.
Alice’s mechanically inclined mother, new to the world of engine rebuilding, tore the motor apart, and successfully returned Lizzy to her former glory – much to the chagrin of a local licensed mechanic who predicted failure.
Staff at Reader’s Digest were equally passionate about the story. It ran in both the Canadian and American editions in November 1996. Alice made the front page of the Nov. 6, 1996 Olds Albertan, holding a copy of the Reader’s Digest that shared her story.
Alice’s neat, handwritten copy rarely required editing – she was adept at self-correcting with a dab of Liquid Paper. She was a talent but worked hard to hone her craft. She wrote several books, was published hundreds of times, and won many awards. She was part of the local writers’ group and loved to share her knowledge of writing.
Thank you Alice for your contribution to this paper, fellow wordsmiths and the community. Failing health left Alice unable to write in recent years, but fortunately, future generations will be able to read of Alice’s life, faith, family, adventures, the history of Olds, and, of course, Lizzy.
