Robert James “Butch” Alpe passed away at Oktibbeha County Hospital on December 20, 2018. Butch was born on June 2, 1942, in Winnsboro, LA to the late Joseph Bernard and Camille Forte Alpe.

Butch graduated from Winnsboro High School in 1960 and Louisiana State University in 1966. Butch was a true “Southern Gentleman” and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, and supporting MSU athletics. He served in the U.S. Army and was the past Director of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce Plant Industry. Butch was the secretary and treasurer for many years for the Mississippi Agriculture Industry Council.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Twila Little Alpe and children Mike and Mitzi Alpe of Starkville, Shane and Kristy Alpe of West Point, and Kalicia and Lee Henderson of Tupelo; grandchildren, Logan and Lillee Alpe of Starkville, Kip and Price Alpe of West Point, and Jay, Joshua, and Jessica Henderson of Tupelo; one brother, Joe Frank Alpe, of Little Rock, AR; one sister, Cheryl and Jerry Reeves, of Winnsboro, LA; mother-in-Law, Beulah Little, of Winnsboro, LA; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Tonda and Petey Parish, of Riverview, FL and Roxy and Scott Fletcher, of Winnsboro, LA; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by special friends, David and Janet Hodges of Aberdeen, MS.

Butch is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Charles “Rock” Alpe, and father-in-law Nelson Little.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 22, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Starkville, MS, at 2:00 p.m. with visitation 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. A Memorial gathering will be held at a later date at Souled Out Ministries in Winnsboro, LA.

The family request in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the Butch Alpe Scholarship Fund in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Online donations may be made at msufoundation.com and designate your gift for the Butch Alpe Scholarship Fund.