He grew up in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey with his parents Wallace Horton McLain and Esther Gladys (Smith) McLain along with his three siblings James Wallace McLain, Ivah Loraine (McLain) Voorhees, and John Milton McLain. As a child he enjoyed spending time at the beach, playing Basketball, raising chickens in his own chicken coop, helping his dad at the butcher shop, making deliveries, and working as a Golf Caddy. After completing High School in Manasquan, New Jersey he joined the Air Force in 1951. After basic training, he was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.
Alfred (Al) and Violet (Vi) Eldredge met each other at a student nurses dance in Boise, Idaho. They were paired up as partners during the Grand Parade and never looked back. In fact, after only a little over a month, they ran off together and eloped. It was not allowed for student nurses to be married so they kept it a secret when Alfred was transferred to Malmstrom Air Force base in Montana, Alfred would make the long 400-mile trek back to see Vi in nursing school as often as he could.
When Vi completed nursing school, they moved to Great Falls, Montana where they welcomed their oldest child, Sandra. Then they headed across country to New Jersey where Al joined the Civil Service and worked for the Army and went to school. Al’s life of service to others began on the 5th of April 1958, when he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Within the next 10 years, their family expanded to include five more children Alfred, Elizabeth, Douglas, Steven and Sharon. In 1974, they decided to move their family to Las Cruces, New Mexico to help with Vi’s asthma. Alfred worked at White Sands Missile Range as a budget and accounting analysis until he retired in 1987.
In 1987, after each of their children had graduated from high school and moved out, Al and Vi were called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Saint Louis, Missouri. Alfred served in the mission office taking care of the mission finances for the mission president. They were released in November of 1988. In 1990, they moved to California to spend time with their California grandchildren. In 1998, they moved to Provo, Utah, where they built Alfred and Vi’s dream home and were able to spend more time with their Utah grandchildren, attending their numerous school activities. Alfred always enjoyed when the grandkids came to visit. Alfred served for fourteen years in the Provo Temple. He supported Vi with many of her hobbies. In 2017, Vi and Al moved to Leander, Texas to spend time with their daughters, Sandy and Sharon.
Alfred loved watching sports especially BYU, Utah Jazz and his kids sporting activities. Alfred hated camping but always took his young family camping. Their little family visited all but two states. The kids loved when he made banana pancakes for dinner and breakfast when Vi worked the graveyard shift. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and held many callings that allowed him to share his wisdom with others. He served as a Branch president for 3 different congregations including a Vietnamese Hmong branch requiring a translator. He also served as a Temple worker, High Priest Group leader, Young Men’s President, Stake High Counselor and many others.
He is survived, by 5 children, 16 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his loving wife Violet of 66 years, children – Alfred Edward McLain Jr, grandchildren Douglas Aaron McLain, Mirasa Leo McLain, and great grandchild Lincoln Charles McLain.
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