Thursday, March 28, 2024

Obituary of Robert H. McAlexander

Name of Deceased Robert H. McAlexander
Age
Date of Death 03/03/2010
Date of Birth 05/19/1944
Funeral Home Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home

Robert H. McAlexander, a few weeks shy of 88, passed away in Frisco, Texas on March 3, 2010. He was born in Percival, Iowa, son of Riley F. and Ora Paddock McAlexander. On May 19, 1944, he married LaVara Alpha Oakley who predeceased him after 62 years of marriage in 2006.

He served his country in the Weather Service of the Army Air Corps during World War II. Dr. McAlexander was an Assistant Dean for International Agriculture and a Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics at Penn State University. Dr. McAlexander received accolades as a pioneer in adapting mathematical programming for solving agricultural problems during his academic career at Penn State which spanned nearly three decades. He assisted with the development and management of Penn State agricultural programs in Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bahamas, Spain, India, Greece, Sri Lanka, China, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Taiwan, and Swaziland.

Dr. McAlexander was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Phi Delta Kappa honorary fraternities. He was a lifelong member of the State College Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and Elder. Dr. McAlexander was a 35-year member of the State College Kiwanis Club. He was a Mayflower descendant who proudly traced his lineage back to William Brewster.

A football and basketball athlete in his younger days, he lived and breathed sports – especially the PSU Nittany Lions – to his dying day. He truly was a gentle giant – with a tall stature of 6'3" his kind demeanor and twinkling blue eyes conveyed the humility and friendliness within. He was always interested in those he met and although a man of few words, his sage advice never failed to impart wisdom and integrity.

Dr. McAlexander is survived by two children, Kay Kinnan, of Frisco, Texas, Steven O. McAlexander and wife, Gay, of Frisco, Texas; four brothers, Carl McAlexander, of Sidney, Iowa, Eugene and Kenneth McAlexander, of Beaconsfield, Iowa, and Dale McAlexander of Humeston, Iowa; twin grandchildren: Kevin A. Kinnan and wife, Lindy, of Coppell, Texas, and Keith R. Kinnan and wife, Lauri of Snoqualmie, Wash.; four great grandchildren, Ethan Kinnan, Callie Kinnan, Cole Kinnan, and Leigh Kinnan. He was also predeceased by his sister, Naomi Johnston of Ellston, Iowa.

Funeral services will be at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at 3:00 p.m.