Alice vonBuelow

Alice Cecile Rankin vonBuelow passed away in her sleep early Sunday morning, March 8, 2015 at her
home in Clinton, Tennessee at the age of 84. She was the wife of Carl Werner vonBuelow with whom
she shared four children and seven grandchildren. She was the last surviving of seven children born to
French Warder Rankin and Mary Florence Scott.
Born in Springfield, Ohio on February 10, 1931, she was the youngest of her six siblings: Samuel
Harrison, Thomas Scott, Mary Louise, Edward Hayes, Dorothy Emily, and William French. Growing up
in Springfield she attended St Raphael's parish church and school. After graduating from Catholic
Central High School in Springfield, OH, she took a summer job as an office clerk for her future
husband, Carl, for the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. Alice introduced Carl to the associate pastor of St
Raphael's Catholic Church to finish his Catholic instructions. Alice was Carl's Godmother when he was
baptized and became a Catholic. In 1949 she left Springfield to attend the College of Mount St.
Joseph-on-the-Ohio for women in Cincinnati, Ohio, run by the Ursuline sisters. In college Alice was
active in drama productions and studied English and education, graduating in 1953.
Alice and Carl were married in Springfield, Ohio at St Raphael's Catholic Church on April 25, 1954, and
began their family in southern California where Carl had grown up. They had four children: Peter
David, Carl Eric, Anna Marie and Mary Beth (Sr. Mary Jacinta). In the ensuing years the family moved
several times as Carl changed jobs. From their start in Pasadena, Ca and then they moved to Dallas,
TX., Tulsa, OK., Springfield Mo., St Louis, MO., Lake Forest, 111., and eventually Knoxville, TN., and
finally Clinton TN., where they resettled in 1996. They have been active members of St Mary's parish
in Oak Ridge since that time.
In 1980's when Carl started Bulow Industries, Alice returned to her first job as Carl's office clerk
(among other duties). She and Carl worked at the business together until it was sold in 1990's. At that
point they both retired together and built their home in Clinton.
Alice is survived by her husband Carl, her four children (above), and seven grandchildren (sons of
Peter and Leeta vonBuelow): Jaspar, Carl, Roland, Josef, Stefan, Johannes and Francesco. Visitation
will be Wednesday March 18 at Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home from 6:00 until 8:00 pm. The funeral
Mass will be held at St Mary's in Oak Ridge on Thursday March 19 at 1:00 pm. followed by a reception.