Francis A. McAllister

Francis McAllister was born in Pylesville, Maryland, the oldest of four children, to Whitmer McAllister and Lottie (Devoe) McAllister. He spent much of his youth working the family farm and joined the National Guard in 1938. He served two years before then enlisting in the US Army in 1940. Francis served his country during WWII as Staff Sergeant in Company D, 115th Infantry, 29th Division. Stationed in England for training Francis met his wife, Victoria Glasser, in 1942 at a Red Cross dance in Bournemouth where he was training for the invasion of Normandy. Francis and Vicki were married on July 24, 1943 in the Oratory of the Sacred Heart Church in Bournemouth, England. On D-Day Francis was in the 2nd wave of landings on Omaha Beach and by the grace of God survived. He fought valiantly for 2 months on the Front Lines before being severely wounded. This, his 2nd wound, left him hospitalized for 8 months. Francis was Honorably Discharged in 1945 and decorated with a Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Medal with 4 Overseas Service Bars. After the war, Francis and Victoria settled in Aberdeen, Maryland where Francis worked as a Mechanical Engineering Technician for the Engineering and Environmental Test Branch at Aberdeen Proving Ground. They raised their two daughters and three sons in Aberdeen, all attending St. Joan of Arc School. Francis was a devoted member of St. Joan of Arc Parish since 1945. He was a highly skilled self taught craftsman and woodworker and spent hours in his shop creating exquisite pieces of furniture. He used his woodworking skills to serve the church by building the original school library bookcases and the Christmas Creche. Francis was also known for his vast collection of Native American artifacts which he mostly collected as a boy from the fields he plowed. He is survived by his daughters, Faye McAllister, Diane Henderson (David), his sons, Patrick (Alena), Michael (JB Baker) and Joseph (Lindsey) and his four grandchildren, Josh McAllister, Ciara McAllister, Meghan McAllister and Connor McAllister, and his four great-grandchildren. Memorial services are Thursday, April 20, 2017 at St. Margaret's Church, 141 N. Hickory Ave, Bel Air, Maryland. Viewing at 9:30am. Funeral Mass at 10:30am. Interment at Bel Air Memorial Gardens at 12 noon with reception to follow at St. Margaret's Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to The Steppingstone Farm Museum, 461 Quaker Bottom Rd., Havre de Grace, MD 21078 (steppingstonemuseum.org/donate). If sending flowers, please send to Tarring Cargo Funeral Home, 333 S. Parke Street, Aberdeen, Maryland. Funeral Home: Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home 333 South Parke Street Aberdeen, MD US 21001