Wilma White Albert

1925 - 2021

Wilma White Albert

Wilma White Albert of Fredericksburg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, died of heart failure on Sunday, January 31, three weeks before her 96th birthday.

Born February 22, 1925, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Wilma was the daughter of the late Ernest Hicks and Eva Greene White. She grew up in White Plains, N.Y., and graduated from White Plains High School and Alfred University. It was at Alfred that she met her husband of 65 years, Henry William Albert, who studied there as a member of the Army Specialized Training Program. They married in 1946, upon his return from World War II, and together attended Syracuse University, where Wilma earned her master's degree in English.

After living briefly in Ft Wayne, Ind., they spent 22 years in Schenectady, N.Y., where they raised their family. Wilma taught at three schools in the Schenectady area, beginning with an historic one-room schoolhouse. They moved to Goldens Bridge, N.Y., in 1975, and she later joined the faculty of the McBurney School in Manhattan. Upon retiring in 1986, Wilma and Henry moved to Charlottesville and, finally, to Fredericksburg.

Wilma was active in the N.Y. American Baptist denomination, serving as a deacon in Burnt Hills Baptist Church, and then in Croton Falls Baptist Church, Park Street Baptist Church in Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg Baptist Church. She and Henry enjoyed 20 overseas trips together and, after his death in 2011, and up until last year, Wilma continued traveling with her daughter. She was a member of Pi Alpha Pi Sorority, and was a life member of both the Daughters of the American Revolution, and of the American Association of University Women, serving as president of the Schenectady branch. She was also past president of the Residents Council at Chancellor's Village Senior Living.

Wilma was a voracious reader and an ace at crossword puzzles. Just days before her death, she finished writing her second children's book for her beloved great-grandchildren. She will be remembered as a woman of great courage, steadfast faith, and deep love for family and friends.

Survivors include her daughter, Carol Elise Albert, and her husband, Robert Bruninga; son Donald and his wife, Kathy Albert; grandchildren Ben and Christina Albert, Kacy Gerst, Zoe and Stan Parrish, Ross Albert and Jane Coffey, Bethanne and Jacob Bruninga Socolar, and A.J. Bruninga; and 8 great-grandchildren, Maggie, Henry, Noah, Wilder, Rylan, Isabelle, Patrick and Logan. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Ernest Bryant White, and her sister-in-law, Marjorie White Wilson.

A service at Fredericksburg Baptist Church and interment at Union Cemetery, Adams Center, N.Y., will be at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fredericksburg Baptist Church, 1019 Princess Anne St., Fredericksburg, VA. 22401.

Online guest book is available at covenantfuneralservice.com.