Obituary of Edith McAlpin

Edith McAlpin was born July 18^th, 1929, in Cresco, Iowa, the daughter of Leon and Neva (Bawden) Morgan. She graduated from Cresco High School with the Class of 1948.  On April 9^th, 1949 she and Thomas Richard McAlpin were united in marriage in Cresco, IA. They were blessed with three children – Larry, Janese, and Gordon.

Edith worked as the Villisca United Methodist Church secretary for a number of years before working at the Villisca bank, and finished her working career at Clarinda Mental Health where she was employed for 23 years.  She was an active member of the Villisca United Methodist Church serving as a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Hope and Love Circle, and UMW. Edith was also very active outside of church. She was a member of the DAR, the “This and That” club, and Leader of the Busy Booster 4-H club.

Edith was a very talented seamstress sewing all of her clothing, as well as her daughter Janese’s. She passed along her love of sewing to her daughter Janese and her granddaughter Lori. While living on the farm and raising her children, she kept a large garden and canned and froze many quarts of food for later use.

She was known as an excellent cook by the haying crews that she fed every summer. She also enjoyed her antique doll collection. In addition, she created a beautiful porcelain doll with handmade period clothing for each of her granddaughters. She and Tom loved to travel, especially their trips to Montana, Arizona, Europe, and to visit her family in Cresco, Iowa.

Edith passed away October 28, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Center in Villisca, Iowa.

Edith is preceded in death by her husband, Tom McAlpin; son, Larry McAlpin; parents, Leon and Neva Morgan; brothers, Paul and Gene; and her sister, Irene Schultz.

She is survived by her daughter, Janese (Dennis) Wagoner; son Gordon (Joni) McAlpin; sister, Janette Howe; brother, David Morgan; daughter-in-law, Kathy McAlpin; 7 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, several more great-great grandchildren, as well as many other family and friends.