Phil Earl "Philip" Albertson

PHIL "PHILIP" EARL ALBERTSON, 76, died Monday, Oct. 2, 2006, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Born Nov. 14,1929, in Boise, Idaho, he was the son of Philip Calvin and Mercedes (Fairbanks Rhodes) Albertson. His boyhood home was in Norman, Okla., where he graduated with the Norman High School class of 1947. He married Mona Louise (Griffin) Albertson on Aug. 18, 1956, in the Church of Christ, Maysville, Okla. The Albertsons moved to their home on the hill ("Nostrebla") about a mile south of Perry on Hwy. 86 (Skyline Drive) in 1959. He and Mona celebrated their Golden Anniversary this August of 2006. He completed his Industrial Engineering degree at Oklahoma State University after serving as a U.S. Air Force jet fighter pilot and officer during the Korean Conflict. In 1959, he started working part-time at Ditch Witch in Perry, Okla. Ditch Witch soon hired him full-time, employee number 25. During the following 31 years, he worked in manufacturing engineering, new product design, purchasing, expansion planning, and research and development at Ditch Witch. As a founding member of the International Geothermal Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), his significant contribution to the technological and economic advances in the Geothermal industry have had a far-reaching impact on the country's energy and environmental future. In 2005, he was awarded the Ambassador Award for Lifetime Achievement by IGSHPA. He has been active on the Perry Airport Board, as an Assistant Scout Master, in the Lion's Club, in the American Legion, and as a deacon and teacher in the Perry Church of Christ. He was an avid reader on a broad range of subjects, he enjoyed flying and sailing on Lake Keystone with the family many weekends. In addition to his wife, Mona, he is also survived by his brothers, Richard Albertson and Maurice "Bud" Albertson; sister, Karin Hyatt; children, Philip (Deborah) Albertson Jr. of Noblesville, Amy (John) Bridges of Los Gatos, Calif., Michael (Paula) Albertson of Mustang, Okla. and Sarah Beth (Dave) Wilcox of Wapakoneta, Ohio; grandchildren, Rohn, Tabitha and Audrina Albertson of Noblesville, Sarah Louise Bridges of Los Gatos, Calif., Britanny, Kristen and Sierra Albertson; and stepgrandson, Curtis Novotny of Edmond, Okla. and Garrett Wilcox of Wapakoneta, Ohio. Memorial service is 3 p.m. Thursday at Auglaize Church of Christ, at The Gardens, 505 Walnut St., Wapa-koneta, Ohio, with Phil Smith officiating. Funeral service is 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, at Perry Church of Christ, Perry, Okla., with graveside services following at Grace Hill Cemetery. An opportunity will be provided during services for friends and family to share thoughts and memories about Phil's life. Arrangements by Brown-Dugger Funeral Home of Perry. Memorials to Lewy Body Dementia Association, c/o Brown-Dugger Funeral Home, 1010 N. 7th St., Perry, OK 73077. Condolences may be sent to the family using our online guestbook at www.brown-duggerfuneralhome.com.