Irma Ruth Macallister

Irma was born in Kokomo, Indiana on March 26, 1925 to Frances and Charles Worthington - the second youngest of 5 sisters and 3 brothers. Irma attended Kokomo High School and graduated in January 1943 intending to go onto college in the fall of that year. However, she met a young naval cadet, William H. MacAllister, Jr (Bill), fell in love and they were married June 20, 1943. Their first child, Kathy, was born during the war while her husband was overseas serving in the South Pacific. During that time, Irma lived in Penns Grove, New Jersey with her sister-in-law, Betty. When the war ended and Bill returned home, Bill, Irma, and Kathy moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where Bill attended Dickenson College and Irma worked nights to support the family at the Columbia Minerva Yarn factory, which may explain her lifelong passion for knitting. After Bill graduated, he accepted a position with RCA in Princeton, New Jersey, and the family moved to Cranbury, New Jersey. Bill and Irma moved many times during their marriage but always considered Cranbury as their hometown. The family grew and Bill and Irma eventually had 6 children. In 1957, Bill accepted a position with Hughes Aircraft and the family moved to Los Angeles, California (Canoga Park). As the children grew older and more self-sufficient, Irma returned to school to become a nurse. Bill retired early from Hughes and joined the Hewlett Packard and Bill and Irma moved to Boise, Idaho. Eventually, Bill fully retired, and they moved to Casper, Wyoming to be near their daughter, Molly.

In 2007 when Irma's health began to deteriorate, Bill and Irma moved back to Los Angeles, California to live with their daughter Kathy and her husband, Tom. No matter where they lived, the church was always a major part of their lives. Irma was active in the WSCS and later the UMW and she cooked many a meal for the Methodist Men. Bill and Irma helped establish 2 Methodist Churches (St. John's in the Valley and LaPalma) and add a new wing to the church in Cranbury. More recently, Irma was a member of the Morning Circle at Westchester United Methodist Church, whose members supported her, loved her and cared for her in her declining years. Irma also became active in the Culver City Senior Center joining, what else, the Friday Knitters. Every Friday Addie, Joan, Gertrude, Kathy and Vi would get together to knit, go to lunch and just be there for each other.

Irma was her family's anchor - a devoted wife, a loving mother, the best grandmother ever and a true friend. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the great joy of her life. As a friend, she was always there for you to listen, to help, to share in your sorrows and your joys. She made everyone feel welcomed and at home. Rarely referring to a recipe, her cooking was renowned, and she was known to many as the pie lady. She was an accomplished seamstress, a knitter and so much more. Her memory will live on her 6 surviving children - Kathy Maugh, William MacAllister III, Linda MacAllister, Julie Haynes, Thomas MacAllister, and Molly Parrish, her 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and her many friends.

If you wish to remember Irma, the family suggests that a donation be made in her name to the Westchester United Methodist Church, 8065 Emerson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045.