Theodore G. "Ted" Albin Sr.

"I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die." John 11:25-26. A longtime resident of Livingston, he passed away on Monday, June 16, 2008, at Ochsner Hospital. He was 85, born Jan. 30, 1923, in the Fourth Ward of Livingston Parish. A 1940 graduate of Albany High School, he served as a fighter pilot in the 15th Air Corps during World War II and flew a P-51 Mustang in 25 combat missions over the European theater. Following his honorable discharge as a first lieutenant, he started college through the benefits of the GI Bill. He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Southeastern Louisiana College in 1948 and his master's degree plus 30 hours from LSU in 1955. He began his career as an educator in the Livingston Parish school system at Walker High School in 1948. He spent the next 22 years at Doyle High School, where he taught mostly high school mathematics courses and later served as principal for 10 years. He also served as coach of the Doyle High School boys basketball team for five years and led them to two state championships in 1952 and 1953. He spent the last six years of his career as the first principal of Doyle Elementary School and retired in 1977. He treasured the many students whose lives he touched during his 29 years as an educator. Following his retirement, he avidly enjoyed gardening and farming on the land where he grew up. He particularly enjoyed the times he spent with his family harvesting his corn crop each summer and making syrup from his sugar cane crop each fall. He was a member of Doyle Baptist Church and the Livingston Parish Retired Teachers Association. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Grace Herring Albin; daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Wayne Henderson, Livingston; grandson, Jeremy Henderson, M.D., Birmingham, Ala.; granddaughter, Jodie Henderson, J.D., Livingston; grandson, Austin Albin, and his mother, Beverly Albin, Walker; a brother, E.N. "Joe" Albin, Livingston; and numerous other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his parents, Theodore "Thee" and Lula Hoover Albin; son, Theodore G. "Teddy" Albin Jr.; brothers, Leonce, Amos and Elmer Albin; sister, Lula Ruth "Sissy" Albin; and a special uncle, Jacob "Jake" Hoover. Visitation at Seale Funeral Home, Livingston, on Wednesday, June 18, was from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visiting resumes at the funeral home on Thursday from 9 a.m. until chapel service at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Charles Bigner. Interment in Gateway Gardens, Livingston.