MACK MALPEE

Mack Malpee, 97, passed away at his home November 12, 2019, surrounded by his family. Mack was born December 29, 1921, in Lakes Charles, Louisiana to Sam and Anna Malpee. He was the youngest son in a family of five sisters and one brother. Mack attended Polytechnical High, in Los Angeles, and received his high school diploma from the Frank Wiggins Trade School studying radio/telephone/telegraph practical theory. He completed CAA aeronautical courses at Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City and finished his education at the University Of Houston Technology Department. Mack held several FCC licenses to include First Class Radio and Second Class Radio Telegraph. In his early years, Mack worked at KREL radio station in Baytown, Texas where he began as a technician and three years later was promoted to Chief Engineer of all equipment. On the side, he assisted the local police department with installation of two-way radios in patrol cars. He worked in the electronics communication field for various government contractors world-wide with his favorite work site being Johnston Atoll until his retirement. Mack served in the United States Air Corps and received an Honorable Discharge with a rank of Staff Sergeant of the 78th Army Air Forces Base Unit in September 1945. His service duties took him to the freezing Interior of Alaska to hot deserts of Egypt and Arabia. Throughout his travels, whether in the United States or abroad, Mack kept his faith and would seek the nearest Greek Orthodox Church. He had a passion for football and enjoyed watching his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. Friends and family will remember his great sense of humor. He will be greatly missed. Mack is survived by his wonderful wife, of over 60 years, Kalliope Malpee; his son, Simeon Malpee (Kristin) and daughter Aphrodite Wirtz; his 3 granddaughters, Athena Wirtz-Grutz (Tanner), Cassandra, and Katherine; his great granddaughter, Lilliana; and many nephews and nieces as well as relatives in Greece. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 19, at 4:30 p.m. with a Trisagion following at 5 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 5300 El Camino Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89118. Funeral service will be Wednesday, November 20, at 10 a.m. at the church. At Mack’s request, burial will be at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery 1900 Veterans Memorial Dr, Boulder City, NV 89005 on Friday, November 22, at 9:20 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the St. John Building Fund.