Bobby R. McAlpine

with his daughter and son-in-law by his side.

He was born in Ranger, Texas, on November 6,1932 to Leonard G. McAlpine and Floy Blanche Hill, as a twin brother to his sister, Dorris Faye McAlpine. He moved to Breckenridge, Texas, at a young age, where he was destined to meet his future wife, Neva Jo Cross. After declaring his love for her during a game of “cockeye”, where you get to kiss anyone after being the first to see a vehicle with only one headlight, they were married on December 9, 1950. They, then, moved to Archer City, Texas, where their son, Michael Ray McAlpine, was born on June 2, 1953.

They were heading for California in 1954, to start a new and exciting life when they ran out of money in Odessa, Texas, and decided to stay. There, Bob began roughnecking for H&P Drilling. In 1956, he tried to join the army but was rejected due to a club foot. Deciding instead, that he could serve his local community, Bob became a policeman and went to work for the Odessa Police Department, beginning his career as a motorcycle officer and eventually working his way up to the rank of Lieutenant of Detectives. His most famous murder case was the “Kiss and Kill” murder of Betty Williams on March 20, 1961, that he solved, ending with a confession from the killer, Mack Herring, following his investigation.

Bob and Neva’s daughter, Janna, was born to them on October 15, 1960. In 1969, Bob retired from the OPD and began a new career in electronic repair. He temporarily moved his family to Lampasas, Copperas Cove, and Alvin, Texas, as he attended school to become certified to work on 2-way radios for Conoco. Bob, then, worked from Alvin, flying in helicopters to drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to work on their communication equipment. Afterwards, he moved his family back to Odessa in 1973.

Bob retired in 1997, finding a love for golf. He would trek almost every day to play the par 3 course at Sunset Golf Course. Bob also loved The Lord., volunteering to work as the sound engineer for Temple Baptist Church for many years. He eventually left that church to attend Antioch Christian Church. He lost his wife when she died July 8, 2009. He, then, joined the Northside Senior Center, where he made many new friends, including his best friend, Marie Thibodeaux, and girlfriend, JoAnn Smith.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his brother James and his sister Mary Jo, his wife, Neva, and his son, Michael.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Janna McAlpine Hanway, and her husband, Ron. Grandchildren: Niki Wallace (Kris), Nikki McAlpine (Aaron), Natina McAlpine, Kendall Carter (Sean), Daniel Hanway, Nathan Torsy (Genessa), Katie Matlin (Moses), and Erick Barrandey (LeAnna). Great-grandchildren: Jordan, Austin, Sidney, Hawk, Dallas, Ethan, Brady, Philip, Shoshanna and Peter. Sister: Dorris Brown. Niece: Donna Barbee, along with many other nieces and nephews. His friends: Marie and JoAnn and so many others.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Buena Vida nursing home and the staff of Interim Hospice Healthcare. The family also wishes to thank author and Professor Shelton Williams, for crediting Bob as the hero of the story of the Betty Williams’ murder. A small memorial to inter his remains at Sunset Cemetery is pending. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Bob’s favorite organization, the West Texas Food Bank.