Allie Frank "Al" Vandegriff

1926 - 2011

Allie Frank "Al" Vandegriff, 84, was born Sept. 29, 1926, and died Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Al is survived by his sons: Jay, 54, and Hugh, 52, Vandegriff; and four grandchildren: Evan, 23, Megan, 22, Carly, 20, and Jay Hunter, 19; and the brothers' spouses: Susan and Kay.
Al was a loving father and admired by his community. He was born to James Lamont and Lucinda Vandegriff, both of whom spent most of their lives in Carlsbad. He also proudly served in the U.S.Army during the Korean War.
Al was married 36 years to his beloved and only wife, Joan Riegel, who died in September, 1990. They raised their sons mostly in Michigan, where he worked with several businesses in supplying welding processes to the auto industry. He was able to secure the first laser and electron beam machine sale to Ford in the '70s.
After Joan passed, Al returned to Carlsbad to retire. He reunited with his high school sweetheart, Ellen Cheek, for the last 15 years of his life. Their favorite routine was to dine out and you often could see them at their favorite restaurants: Kaleidoscoops, Pecos River Café and Larez.
Many in town would remember Al as a Great Guy. He was quite a storyteller and in the last 10 years, finished and published a novel of his life's passion: Flying. The novel is called "Losers Weepers" and a sequel novel, "Finders Keepers."
The family will be holding a memorial to Al at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, for all who would like to attend a remembrance of his celebration of life. It will take place at the Eddy House, next to the Flume, where he grew up and lived, around the beautiful Pecos River.
We request that any donations be sent to The American Cancer Society.