Alvin Paul DuPont, Sr., age 94, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., passed away July 31, 2019 in Canton, Texas. His Funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 3, 2019, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Thomas Ackerman officiating. Entombment will follow in Evergreen City Cemetery with Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be Friday, August 2, 2019, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home. The Rosary Service will be at 5 p.m. at Heritage Chapel.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret McLeod of 65 years.
Survivors include his daughter, Rosalind DuPont Reese (John) of Canton, Texas; son, Alvin Paul DuPont, Jr. (Monica) of Folsom, Calif.; grandchildren, Dr. Rebecca Reese (Wendy), Tyler D. Reese (Toni) of Wylie, Texas, Dane DuPont of San Diego, Calif. and Annette DuPont, of Los Angeles, Calif.; and four great-grandchildren.
While recovering at Tuscaloosa's Northington General Hospital from wounds received about five weeks after D-Day in in 1944, Alvin DuPont met his future wife, Tuscaloosa native Margaret McLeod. After DuPont earned an engineering degree at The University of Alabama, the couple settled in Tuscaloosa, where he began his career with the City, rising to the offices of City Engineer, City Planning Director, and five terms as Mayor. The local Catholic community followed his career with pride. As a member of the Catholic men's service organization, the Knights of Columbus, Sir Knight Alvin DuPont participated actively in the group's many charitable and service projects.
When in the early 1960's the burgeoning parish outgrew its tiny original church on Lurleen Wallace Boulevard, Alvin DuPont was co-chairman of the Site Selection Committee which identified and procured the spacious new site for Holy Spirit Church and School, a site which some then questioned as being "way out in the country". DuPont then chaired the Building Committee which oversaw the design and construction of a large new church and school which continued to serve the parish splendidly into the 21st Century.
By the time DuPont's final term as Mayor ended in 2005, his wife's health had begun to decline, and until her death in 2010, Mr. DuPont devoted himself to her care. The tornado of April 27, 2011 shattered his house in Cedar Crest, which was squarely in the center of the destruction zone. Although then in his mid-80's, he dauntlessly rebuilt on the same site. Despite these challenges and setbacks, he nevertheless found time to serve his community as a greeter at DCH Regional Hospital, offering a friendly smile to throngs of hospital visitors, many of them anxious and in need of encouragement.
Pallbearers will be Ken W. Swindle, Butch Chandler, Richard Crawford, Rodney Gilliam, Greg Smith, Mike Wright, Frank Chandler and Leland Baker.
Thanks to Canton Oaks Nursing Home of Canton, Texas and Hospice Heart to Heart of Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John's Catholic Church.
Condolences may be offered at www.HeritageChapelTuscaloosa.com.
