William Mcaleb

William Basil McAleb, 89, of Allen , Texas passed away at 12:15am, August 25th, 2012 at Belmont Rehabilitation Center of natural causes.
William was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1923 to Helen and Lee Basil McAleb. He grew up with his sister Kathleen in Wilcox Arizona, where Bill achieved the only 5-sport letterman ever at Wilcox High School.
A member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, he played baseball for Arizona State when he was called to serve in WWII . An Eight Air Force 379th Bomber Group B-17 pilot, he successfully flew 35 bombing missions in the European Theatre. This Lieutenant in the Army Air Corp, was honored for his bravery with a Distinguished Flying Cross from the President of the United States. He was also a member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.
After being honorably discharged in 1942, he continued his baseball career while attending and then graduating from University of Arizona. Bill then started his career of 36 years with El Paso Natural Gas in Jal, New Mexico and was later transferred to the main off in El Paso, Texas where he worked until his retirement.
Bill is survived by his wife, Norma of 58 years, and their three children, William Jr., Gordon, and Kenneth; three daughter-in-laws:, Kim, Susan and Julie; and five Grandchildren: Shannon, Ryan, Sydney, James and Morgan.
Bill served the El Paso community and was a member of the Lions Club and the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeliners. He was a Civic Leader in El Paso and was active in the United Way and the Boy Scouts of America. Bill was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church.
Ceremony and internment will take place on Friday, August 31st at 10:30 am at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.