Gladys Alder

Gladys Irene Brinkman Alder (95). Born June 21, 1914, in Yukon, Oklahoma, Gladys was the first child of Imogene Talmage Brinkman and Gillespie (Gib) Brinkman. She died peacefully on May 11, 2010 at the Denver home of daughter, Norma Alder Kovacs, from years of congestive heart failure and COPD. Until her final few months, Gladys stayed in phone contact with former piano students and their parents, former fellow church workers and teachers, members of her sorority, former Eastern Star colleagues, and the furthest reaches of family and past neighbors, all of whom benefited from her undimmable optimistic outlook. Proud of her hometown, she rarely missed Yukon High School's annual reunion banquet, even after her move to Denver in her late eighties. She married Norman William Alder in 1934. In 1948 they moved the family to Oklahoma City, where they established a home construction business and reared their family of five children, born over a period of 19 years. I'm infested with children! She would gleefully exclaim. Norman died in 1979. All children survive including Jac Alder of Dallas, Robert (Bob) Alder of Denver, Norma Alder Kovacs of Denver, Dr. Nora (Happy) Alder of Richmond, Virginia, and Bruce Alder of Denver. She is also survived by Bob's wife, Diane, and grandchildren Scott and Brad Alder, Tash, Briana and Hunter Kovacs, Jessica and Ashleigh Alder, and Wes Carrel. Following private burial services, the family will greet family and friends on Friday, June 11, from 3:00 to 5:00pm at Yanda & Son Funeral Home in Yukon. The following day, Saturday, June 12, at 10:30am, there will be a memorial service at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, 2301 NE 23. David Shields, Pastor at the church during some of Gladys' tenure there as organist and choir director, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Denver Hospice (denverhospice.com) in recognition of the superb support provided to Gladys and the family. (Internet obituary available at yan daandsonfuneralhome.com)