Josephine Keller McAllister, a woman who broke records in real estate sales and was in the Who’s Who of American Women for her accomplishments, died on July 11 in Santa Maria as a result of a stroke. She was 78. Born in Tennessee, McAllister met her husband Howard at the Pentagon during World War II. They spent their early years together in several states as he worked as an engineer for RCA. They moved to Pacific Palisades in 1961, and McAllister went into real estate sales with Huntington Realty, which later became Red Carpet Realty. McAllister and her husband loved Big Band dancing, partying and water skiing. In her later years, she busied herself with various crafts and spent every minute she could with her grandchildren. She was widowed in 1988 when Howard passed away after 38 years of marriage. McAllister eventually moved to Santa Barbara County to spend her last years living with her son and daughter. She is remembered as fun-loving and creative, a wonderful parent and grandparent and a person with a very strong, loving spirit. McAllister is survived by her daughter, Donna Jennings of Santa Maria; son Jon McAllister of Long Island; granddaughters Erica Jensen and Lindsay McAllister; grandson Sean Jennings; and sisters Helen Worley and Bessie Eagle of Tennessee. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of the Los Angeles National Cemetery, a VA cemetery, on Wednesday, August 3 at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow. All are welcome.
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