FT. MYERS, FL: Agnes Alexander, a longtime resident of Lancaster, Ohio, died peacefully Saturday May 30, 2015 at her home in Ft. Myers, Florida. She was 93.
Born January 10, 1922, in Jeannette, Pennsylvania (Westmoreland County) to the late Ann and Edward Bernard Stern.
Agnes was a graduate of Jeannette High School, class of 1940. She enrolled in St. John's School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA..
Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Mrs. Alexander enlisted in the United States Army Nurse Corps as a second lieutenant. After training and stateside duties, she was attached to the 164th Hospital.
Following the allied invasion of France, the nurses of the 164th were sent to Normandy, becoming the first nurses to land in France without first training in England.
The field hospital was a primary recipient of wounded from the Battle of the Bulge, among other actions. During her service in Normandy, Bobby was promoted to first lieutenant.
She was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and, on December 19, 2013, was named a Chevalier de la Legion D'Honneur (the French Legion of Honor) by the French government.
Agnes met her future husband, Robert Alexander, who was attached to the same unit, in Normandy. They married in 1946, and were together for 54 years, until Mr. Alexander's death in 1999.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Ann Crowder, in 2007.
Mr. Alexander's sales position with Lancaster Glass brought them to Lancaster, Ohio.
Mrs. Alexander was active in various organizations including Fairfield County, Ohio Hospital T.W.I.G., the League of Women Voters, and as a board of elections poll worker
Mrs. Alexander is survived by sons, Bruce, San Clemente, California, Blair (Ellen Whaley) Galveston, Texas, and Brian (Shelley Alexander), San Diego, California.
Veteran