Frances Ann Alpiger

Frances Ann Shields Alpiger, aged 60, passed away on December 7th, 2024, in Carrollton, TX. She was born on October 11th, 1964, in Dallas, TX to Lynda Minor. Frances was raised in Dallas, TX and graduated with high honors from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1983. She married Donald Alpiger in Dallas, TX in 1985 and the couple had two children, Peter and Amanda. She worked in bookkeeping, payroll, HR-related functions, and many other capacities at various companies for more than forty years.

She attended the University of Texas at Arlington. Among her places of employment were Automatic Buffet, Minyard’s, Coca-Cola, Tom Thumb, T-Shirt Promotions, Delve, American Alloy, Wingstop, and Presidio Networked Solutions. She ran her own in-home daycare business called “Frances’ Home Away from Home” for years, and she also sold Avon and Tupperware. She served on the PTA in multiple officer positions, as room mother nearly every year in her children’s classrooms, and chaperoned nearly every field trip her children attended. If Peter (son), Amanda (daughter), Wil (nephew), or Ashtyn (granddaughter) were playing, performing, or even participating in any activity, Frances was in attendance from before the event started to the very end.

Frances made it her priority to take care of her family and friends. She was an avid baker and created multiple wedding, groom’s, baptism, and custom birthday cakes through the years. She was happiest with her family around the table playing games like Dominoes, Yahtzee, Gin Rummy, and UNO. These traditions began when she learned and played with her grandparents, then taught a host of friends multiple games, passed the tradition to her children, and most recently taught the light of her life, her granddaughter, Ashtyn, to play everything from Candy Land to Yahtzee.

Frances had many talents. She had a beautiful singing voice and was in Concert Choir, reserved for the most talented and skilled singers in high school. She was equally talented with marksmanship skills and was awarded several school and district awards as a female rifleman in ROTC.

In her down time, which was rare, she enjoyed watching sitcoms and often shared her analysis and commentary on the plot with her family. On the rare occasions she would take time for a vacation, you could find her in Galveston or Crystal Beach with family gathered around, often with card games on schedule.

Friends and family will always remember her as selfless, kind and caring, generous and fair, welcoming to everyone. While she rarely stood up for herself, she was loyal and fiercely protective of her family. She was supportive and always described as friendly. Friends have described her as a force of nature. She was meticulous with details, could always be depended upon in a crisis, was the best listener, and was intelligent and wise. In her high school yearbook, she was accurately described as having good sense and high standards.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Lynda Minor, her grandparents, Ruby and Duke McFadden, and her father- and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Lael Alpiger.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Alpiger, her son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Monica Alpiger, her daughter and son-in-law, Amanda and Quinn Kielhorn, her granddaughter, Ashtyn Kielhorn, her sister and brother-in-law, Tonya and Wilson Roach, her nephew, Wil Roach, her cousin and husband, Sondra and Mike Novak, and their two daughters, Courtney and Brittany, her sister- and brother-in-law, Lisa and Tim Atwood, and their two children, Lindsay and Marshall, and many other extended family and friends.

Among her accomplishments, she was an outstanding student who was consistently on the honor roll. She graduated in 1983 and was ranked in the top ten students of her class. She was a member of the National Honor Society and served as the Secretary in her senior year. She was a member of the swim team, the Chemistry Club, the Spanish Club, Concert Choir, the Physics Club, and served as Vice President of the Humanities Club. She was a member of ROTC where she obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She was a member of the Thomas Jefferson Rifle Team where she served as Captain. She not only served as Battalion Commanding Officer but was also selected as Military Ball Queen two times. In her senior year, she was the only cadet in the five-state area to be awarded the prestigious Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement, given only to cadets who demonstrate excellence in military, scholastic, and civic affairs. It is the highest honor a cadet can earn in ROTC.

A memorial service for Frances will be held Wednesday, December 18, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Rhoton Funeral Home, 1511 South Interstate 35E, Carrollton, TX 75006.