William G. Alberts

William G. Alberts, 84, of 1811 S. 24th, died at 11:47 a.m. Monday (Aug. 11, 2008) in Sunset Home. He was born Jan. 24, 1924, in Roodhouse, the son of Howard and Helen Cardwell Alberts. On May 30, 1948, he married Elaine Christiansen in Princeton. She survives. Bill was raised in Alton, where he graduated from Alton Senior High School and was valedictorian of Shurtleff College. He served in the U. S. Navy V-5 Program from 1942-1946 and while in the service he attended the University of Iowa and the University of Chicago. He received his master's degree and worked on his doctorate at the University of Illinois. He also received an honorary doctor of laws from Culver-Stockton College. Bill was a coach, high school teacher and then superintendent of schools in Sullivan, before coming to Quincy as assistant superintendent in 1957. He remained in Quincy and served as superintendent until 1980 when he retired. He was active in professional and civic organizations some of which included: Secretary-treasurer of Board of Directors of CEMREL (National Education Laboratory, St. Louis, Mo.); Governor's Task Force for Education, state of Illinois; Governor Advisory Committee, state of Illinois; Illinois Board of North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; chairman of the Executive Board of Culver-Stockton College; Advisory Board of Western Illinois University, Macomb and Quincy College; and a Distinguished Alumni of the College of Education, University of Illinois. Survivors in addition to his wife include two sons, Dr. William Michael Alberts and his wife, Debra, of Tampa, Fla., and Dr. David Merrill Alberts and wife, Mary, of Mesa, Ariz.; four grandchildren, Kathryn Elaine Alberts of Florida, Michael Alberts of Florida, Scott Alberts and his wife, Lori, of Quincy, Lisa Smith and her husband, Ryle, of Pella, Iowa; one great-grandson, Shane Alberts of Quincy; a sister-in-law, Naomi Farrell of Princeton; two cousins, Linda Bashan and family of Indiana and Joan Crawford and family of Jacksonville; three nieces, Jill Freden of Farmer City, Jan Whitlock of Princeton, and Joy Walker of Arlington, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister. SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Vermont Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Lou Zuck officiating. Burial will be in Quincy Memorial Park. VISITATION: 4-7 p.m. Wednesday in the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. MEMORIALS: Quincy Foundation for Quality Education (QFQE), Vermont Street United Methodist Church or Culver-Stockton College. WEB SITE: www.hansenspear.com. ARRANGEMENTS: Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.whig.com.