PRINCETON, Ind. — Alpha L. Birge, age 82 passed away Sunday July 12, 2009 at the Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. She was born Sept. 3, 1926 in Lowell Arkansas to Benjamin Wesley and Ruthie Fern (Whittle) Greer.

She was a housewife and a mother, enjoyed playing a guitar and singing. She was a member of the Church of God in Poplar CA. She had lived in the Princeton area since 2002 moving here from Poplar.

Alpha is survived by a son, Jim W. (Regina) Birge, Patoka, three daughters; Louise (Bob) Bean, Patoka, Ann Shaw, St. Clair, MO, and Brenda (Curtis) Thompson, Princeton, one brother, Johnson Cates, Canyonville OR and a sister, Alma Winters, WA, 15 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 6 great –great grandchildren.

Her parents and a brother Lester Cates preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, July 17, 2009 at the Colvin Funeral Home, with the Rev. Scott Burr officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Patoka. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time on Friday at the funeral home..