Herbert Pershing “Mac” McAlpine was born in rural Blount County on July 16, 1919, the fifth child of Alex and Ophelia Roberts McAlpine.
He was called to serve his country in 1941 during WWII where he served with the US Army 140th Quartermaster Trucking Company delivering cargo and personnel during the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign on the island of Iwo Jima.
He was qualified as a sharpshooter at the expert level and received Good Conduct, American Defense Service, and Victory Medals along with Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign and American Theater Campaign Ribbons. He and his company were stationed in Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and Iwo Jima, before he was honorably discharged after 33 months of service.
In 1948, he married Bernice Pauline “Polly” Bowers and they settled in Center Point, Al. He worked for TCI as a steel inspector until 1950 when he joined the US Air Force, serving as a firefighter with the 801st Installation Squadron during the Korean conflict.
After the war, he became a full-time fireman serving the communities of Mountain Brook and Tarrant City, where he retired as fire chief. Herbert and Polly lived in Center Point for over 50 years where they enjoyed square dancing with the Guys and Gals Square Dance Club and often traveled to Blount and Cullman counties to visit friends and relatives.
Herbert’s true passion was hunting, especially quail and pheasant, taking many trips out west to hunt. He also loved baseball and football. In 2006 he and Polly relocated to Hanceville, Al to be closer to the relatives they so loved.
After a brief illness, Herbert was called home to be with our Lord on July 23, 2016.
He is preceded by his parents, brothers Alvin, Glen, Jack, and Johnny, sisters, Ruth, Bessie, Pearl, D.V., and Lucille, and his loving wife of 64 years, Polly.
He is survived by his brother Edward (Annie Ruth) McAlpine and sister, Betty Minor, as well as a host of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. The family will receive visitors Tuesday July 26, at 10 a.m. with the funeral to follow at 11 a.m., with interment at the Garden City Cemetery. Hanceville Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
