George McAlpine, 83, a longtime Ephrata resident, passed away suddenly on December 26, 2009, at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, WA. George was born on November 23, 1926, to George and Irene (Schroeder) McAlpine in Chicago, IL. George was the oldest of three children. He graduated from St. Leo High School in Chicago, IL in 1944. After graduating from high school, he worked at the Acme Steel Mill. He moved to Leavenworth, WA in late 1947. While in the hospital recovering from a work accident, he met his future wife (his nurse), Etta Ewing. They were married in Leavenworth in 1949. Shortly after the wedding, they moved to Whidbey Island, where their first child, Mary, was born in Everett in 1951. Later in 1951, the family moved to Foley, AL, where Dan was born. In 1953, they moved back to Leavenworth, WA, where Joey and Terry were born. While there, he worked for the Great Northern Railroad. In 1955, the family moved back to Whidbey Island, where Dody, Dave, Bob and Tom were born (in a Everett hospital). At this time, he worked as a lineman in power line construction at multiple locations throughout the state of Washington. He worked for Boeing, then for Puget Power Co. on Whidbey Island. He then went to work at Weyerhauser Saw Mill in Everett. In 1966, he went to work for the Grant County P.U.D. as a Lineman, retiring in 1990. George later met and married Joyce (Sutton) Stanley on December 3, 1994, in Ephrata. George taught hunter education classes for 25 years. He enjoyed trap shooting with the Almira Gun Club. George worked with Ephrata Sportsman Association as an early member. Later on, he helped build the Ephrata Range. He was a benefactor of NRA. He and Joyce spent a lot of time with their love of bird watching, especially with his favorite pair of binoculars from his favorite chair. He often went hiking, rode bicycles and especially loved his garden, full of tomatoes. George had a great love of photography. He also loved trains and taking trips on them.

George is survived by his wife, Joyce of Ephrata; his children, Dan (Sandy) of Moxee, WA, Terry of Yakima, WA, Dody of Olympia, Dave of Everett, WA, Bob of Spokane, WA and Tom (Sylvie) of Everett, WA; his granddaughters, Chelsea of Everett and Jessica of Moxee; his two sisters, Dolores Merren of Mobile, AL and Nancy (Richard) Oblak of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by step-sons, Ralph Stanley of Austin, TX, Knight (Rhonda) Stanley of Northfield, MN, Scott (Sherry) Stanley of Mesa, AZ and Kriss (Karen) Stanley of Albuquerque, NM; many grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. George was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary (age 4); son, Joey (age 4); his parents; and his wife, Etta.

Vigil Services will be held Friday, January 1, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church in Ephrata, WA and a Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, with Burial to follow at the Ephrata Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Rose of Lima School, in Ephrata, in George's name. Arrangements are in the care of Nicoles Funeral Home in Ephrata, WA.