Elaine
Ethel Dunlap (formerly Elaine Alward), 67, a 52-year
resident of Alaska, died May 3, 2011, in Phoenix, Ariz., of
ovarian cancer. She had been in remission since November
2007.Elaine was born to Wilford and Ethel Pettis, in Saint Paul, Minn., on Dec. 6, 1943. She moved to Alaska in June 1952 when she was 8 years old. She attended Anchorage High School.
She married David Alward, of Willow, and had five children, four of whom reside in Anchorage, Eagle River and Palmer. In 1993, Elaine married Jerry Dunlap in Anchorage. Jerry, originally from Yakima, Wash., and Elaine spent their time living in Anchorage, Wasilla and eventually in Tucson, Ariz.
Elaine spent the majority of her life as a homemaker and later worked as a bookkeeper at Bush Landscaping and at Harbor Adjustments. A fantastic mother who loved her children and grandchildren, Elaine was a warm, compassionate and generous person. After moving Outside, she and Jerry, who works in the oil and gas industry, enjoyed traveling around the country.
Elaine is survived by Charlie Pettis of Big Lake; Eunice and Bill Emswiler of Katie, Texas; Delmar and Gladys Pettis of LaCrosse, Wisc.; her children, Joe and Corrine Alward, Jerry and Annette Alward, Jason Alward and Sandy Stanek-Alward, and Alaina and Bryan Anderson; grandchildren, Jake, Megan, Taylor, Avery and Grayson; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; daughter, Charlene Alward; and brothers, Eldon Pettis and Lyle Pettis.
At the age of 5, Elaine had hip surgery, which was graciously donated by the Shriners. As a result, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Shriners Hospitals for Children on behalf of “Elaine Dunlap.”
A celebration of life is from 4 to 7 p.m., May 13. A potluck will follow, and the family requests attendees bring a dish to share. The event is at Tanglewood Resort Chalet on the frontage road off the New Seward Highway between Huffman and O’Malley in Anchorage.
