CTC US NAVY
OTRG MEMBER

Our Father, who art in Heaven, called dad home Monday, 25 Feb 13. I guess Momma needed a guitar picker and yodeler to accompany her piano playing in the Angel Band.
Dad was born 18 May 18 in Blackstone, VA, to Yancy and Clara Albertson. He was the youngest of five sons and had five living sisters. At the young age of about nine, Yancy suddenly died and the remaining family moved to Central Florida. Grandmaw had a tough time holding the family together so Dad and his sister Mildred volunteered to go to the Florida Methodist Children's Home, a local orphanage. It was there he was assigned as a milker of the Home's dairy herd…twice a day, every day. Dad also learned how to survive out in the woods with Hugh Joiner, another lad milking, and they would become lifelong friends. After about eight years, Dad related once in his seldom story times, the Home was turning away babies for lack of space. He left to make room for the little tykes who needed help more than he. Dad was always generous, giving and a helper to those who needed a hand up, not out.
In 1937, after packing celery, milking cows for Mr. Fugel, and anything to keep from starving to death, Dad was accepted, finally, into the United States Navy. More than once, he was rejected because "…they said I was too scrawny…" Dad was all rawhide and whang leather, except for his heart. Selected early in his Naval career because of his work ethic and gumption, he joined Naval Intelligence and shipped to the Pentagon for training as an Intercept Operator. He was part of the "On-the-Roof-Gang" at the Pentagon because there were no classrooms available. It was the fabled OTRG who finally broke the mystical Japanese Code used by Japan in their war efforts in the Pacific. Dad was at Pearl Harbour on December 7th. Six months later, he was on the Yorktown when she finally sunk. He got into the lifeboat with his ear-phones, teletype, and tape. Dad was in Adak, AK during Korea. After the wars, the family settled in San Diego, CA where he joined the teaching cadre at Naval Training Center, and later at Naval Communications Center, Imperial Beach, CA. He retired in 1957.
After a stellar, but "…just doing my job…" career, Dad got his high school diploma. Then, he charged on and upward through San Diego State to become a history teacher. Because of his work ethic, he completed the four year requirements in three. He taught at Kearny High School, San Diego, CA for almost 20 years.
His retired life consisted of talking care of Momma and driving her to china painting classes, his thriving and prosperous bee keeping business, his fruit trees and garden plots. When Mother's health began to fail, old-fashioned and faithful, Dad took care of her until the end about 12 years ago.
In the spring of 2004, Dad moved to Wasco to live with us. He was independent and resourceful, proud but humble, introspective and reticent. He, nor Momma, didn't preach about those qualities, they lived them.
Dad was preceded in death by Momma, Clara LaMerle Albertson, the Kansas sunflower he married. Brothers, Walter, Clifton, Clarence and John all died as a result of military service to America. Four sisters, Mabel, Thelma, Mildred, and Lucy are gone and one surviving sister, Margaret Fuller lives in Bois de Arc, MO. Daughters Sue Albertson and Laura May Booker, and son John and Juanita Albertson all live in Wasco.
We are blessed to be the daughters, daughter-in-law, and son about whom Tom Brokaw coined the phrase, "The Greatest Generation." We hope our lives can reflect the greatness of our parents, who modeled those qualities of perseverance, humble pride, and a work ethic. Thank you Momma and Dad. 27 Feb 13