Alice Virginia Kesterson (Ifft), 50, of Snow Hill, Md., died at her home on Thursday.

Kesterson was a native of Butler and an alumna of Chatham College, Pittsburgh.

She was the daughter of Lorraine Kesterson of Butler and the late William Woodrow Kesterson.

Mrs. Kesterson was a longtime sales director for Random House Inc. She was the owner of the Eastern Shore retail emporium called "Alice."

Alice and her husband, Randy, met when they were teenagers, while both were competitive swimmers and lifeguards.

They spent the early years of their marriage in Chicago, where Kesterson rose through the ranks at Random House and helped her husband build his architecture business. She was among the first management-level publishing executives to "tele-commute" from outside New York headquarters and helped build the Ballantine/DelRey/Fawcett division into a powerhouse in both paperback and hardcover retail sales and later retooling her sales force after the company's acquisition by Bertlesmann.

A razor sharp wit with a gentle air, Alice was revered by booksellers across the country for her thoughtful care for their business, her pride in the industry as well as her infectious love of reading.

She was beloved by friends and family for having a comforting air, a giving heart and, on many occasions, a devilish grin.

By the time she left Random House after 22 years, Alice and Randy had relocated to Chanceford Hall, in Snow Hill, where she opened an unusual bookstore that only carried offbeat titles and quality works she personally endorsed. "People can buy bestsellers anywhere", Kesterson said. "I sell the other wonderful new books, titles people can't find anywhere else on the eastern shore."

In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Randy James Ifft of Snow Hill; a sister and brother-in-law, Amy and Tom Lavorini of Butler; a niece, Kay Marie Lavorini; nephews, Peter and Joseph Lavorini; and many friends and colleagues too numerous to enumerate.

<B>KESTERSON</B> — A memorial service for Alice Virginia Kesterson (Ifft), who died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at All Hollows Episcopal Church, 109 W. Market St., Snow Hill.Donations may be made to the Alice V. Kesterson Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Taylor Bank, P.O. Box 9, Snow Hill, MD 21863.Arrangements are in the care of <B>Holloway Funeral Home</B>, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804.Visit www.hollowayfh.com to express condolences to the family.