William W. McAllister Sr.

1928 - 2020

William W. McAllister, 92, of Cambridge peacefully died in his sleep on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. He is survived by a large and loving family.

Born on January 2, 1928, Bill Mac was a son of the late Agnes H. and James A. McAllister. He graduated from Cambridge High School, Class of 1945 and attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He served in the army but was honorably discharged at the end of the Korean War. He later returned to Cambridge with the opening of Western Publishing and was for many years Vice President of Windsor Publications, based in Encino, CA. His career afforded him the opportunity to travel extensively. It was a love he shared with and passed on to his family. Bill Mac enjoyed living and raising his children on the Eastern Shore and took great pride in providing them with a childhood filled with a wide range of activities and memories.

Throughout his life, Bill Mac was resourceful and multi-talented. He made a living as a young man playing pool and bridge, painting watercolors and boat transoms. He was always an artist and after retirement opened a painting studio in St. Michaels where he enjoyed making his art surrounded by other creative friends. A man of varied talents, he would sing the O Holy Night solo at Christmas services at Christ Church, obtained his pilot's license and routinely flew his plane "78 Whiskey" to business appointments, painted the Bay-themed mural at the Cambridge Yacht Club, raced Star boats with his great friend Marvin, did watercolor portraits of the finest homes in Talbot County, and was always, above all, a charming gentleman and a friend to many.

He was a loving and attentive father, and is survived by his daughter Sherry McAllister Thompson and her husband Matthew, of Cambridge; sons William W. (Sandy) McAllister, Jr. and his wife Debbie, of Easton; James Lawrence McAllister and fiancée Jenifer Christian, of Kent Island; and Michael Sherman McAllister and his wife Paige of Charlotte; five grandchildren, Maggie McAllister-Miller (Dan); Kathleen Rose Thompson; Spencer Mason McAllister (Jordan); Ian Max McAllister; and Toby McAllister; and four great-grandchildren, Rose, Betty, Evelyn, and Jack; his brother Joseph P. McAllister and his wife Rachel, of Nashville; brother-in-law Charles Spencer and his wife Vicci, of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina; and Mary Lou McAllister of St. Michaels.

He was preceded in death by his father, James A. McAllister, Sr., his mother, Agnes Phelps McAllister Geoghegan; his beloved wife Betty Clay Sherman McAllister; his brother James A. McAllister, Jr.; and his brother-in-law Wayne Spencer.

A brief grave-side memorial service for family and close friends will be held at Old Trinity Church on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to Eastern Shore Youth Lacrosse; Mid-Shore Community Foundation (Cambridge Fund); or the charity of your choice. Due to the pandemic restrictions, there will be no reception and we ask that anyone attending the service strictly adhere to face mask and social distancing guidelines. Bill Mac and his children thoroughly understand and encourage people to consider paying their respects privately and safely at home. A celebration of his life will be arranged in the future when it is safe to do so.

Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.