Albert Stephens passed away on Friday, August 29, 2014.
He was born on December 15, 1915 in Globe, AZ to George and Bertha Stephens. He was the fourth child of a family of six. He grew up in Globe where he learned to work hard and to take responsibility. Like many of his generation, he learned hard work from working at whatever labor was available. The family raised rabbits and turkeys. They hauled the stomachs and other products from the packing plant to make tripe. He learned about grave digging and keeping cemeteries clean. He hauled ore that he shoveled by hand in a dump truck on the old Superior highway. At the age of 6 he was selling newspapers in downtown Globe. Later he and his brother had a paper route. He graduated from Globe High School in 1933. Having no money for higher education, he found work wherever he could. He married Louise Hughes just after she graduated high school in 1936. They built a home in Central Heights on land given to them as wedding present. Their daughter Joy was born there in 1938. When Louise's family sold their motor court in Central Heights and moved to Arenas Valley near Silver City, he quit his job in the mines and joined the Whiteley's at their home. He found work as a plumber's apprentice when the company homes in Hurley were being built. When World War II broke out, he attempted to sign up, but Arizona quotas were full. After taking the Civil Service Exam and passing, he became a Railway Mail Clerk for the United States Postal Service. The family moved to Tucson and finally to El Paso, TX where he retired from the Postal Service in 1972. He was drafted and entered the Navy in 1945 and was discharged in 1946. He and Louise lived in San Francisco for a short time where he worked in the Naval Post Office until he was sent to the Philippines. He came home in 1946 and resumed his position in the Railway Mail Service. He served as a supervisor between El Paso and Tucson. The happiest years were spent on The Whiteley Ranch where he and Louise built another house and lived there from 1972 until 2008. They raised gardens, squared danced and round danced, traveled and prospered. They were also rockhounds, a hobby that started in El Paso and continued in Silver City. From their finds, Albert and Louise created silver jewelry. As the years passed, illness took Louise's abilities to take care of everyday activities.
Louise passed away in August of 2008. Albert Stephens was also preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers-Bill, Earl and Elmer Stephens; two sisters-Alberta Martin and Lillian Ruth Burns.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Joy and Dave Schuhmann; his brother-in-law, John Whiteley and his wife Ruth and their children, Mike, Jim, David, Holley, Lisa and Paula and their families. As well as his nephew Virgil Stephens and his wife Emily and their family. Other nephews include Bobby and Troy Burns and Jimmy Martin. He is also survived by many friends: Connie and Chancel Teague, Elaine Blackman, Pat Hastings, Ruby Prevost and her son, Kevin, Mary Ida Abercrombie, Jeanne and Mike Jones, Dana and Greg Simmons and their family, Donna and Lloyd and Tancee Bussey, Nellie and Twister Smith and their family and all the other friends of the White Signal Community.
Services will be held at Terrazas Funeral Chapels, 1 Ft. Bayard Rd, on Monday, September 8, at 10 am with Pastor Floyd Robertson officiating. Inurnment will follow at Fort Bayard National Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Hospice and to a favorite charity. Family and friends are invited to a Remembrance and potluck lunch to be held at White Signal Community Hall following the service.
Cremation has taken place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.