Warren F. Albertson

Warren F. Albertson, 93, passed away Friday, Jan. 12, 2007.

Funeral: 3 p.m. Wednesday in Arlington Funeral Home Chapel. Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Arlington Funeral Home.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Richland Hills Christian Church, 3908 Ruth Road, Richland Hills 76118.

Warren was born Dec. 12, 1913, in Rufe, Okla. His family moved from Oklahoma to Lamar County not long after his birth in a covered wagon, crossing the Red River on a ferry. He was the second youngest of 11 children who grew up on a farm. Warren was one of the few in his family to finish high school (11 grades in Pattonville) and was the only member of his family to attend college.

He earned an A.A. from Paris Junior College in 1934, and also attended North Texas State University. He earned a teachers certificate, taught in a one-room school for several years, and coached volleyball.

In 1937 Warren married Merna, who was also a teacher. He served in the National Guard-Army Air Corps. During World War II the family lived in Dallas where he worked in an aircraft plant. Later they returned to Paris, Texas, where he was the division manager of Ice Cream for Borden Dairy. In 1950 he moved the family to Fort Worth where he was employed by Convair and General Dynamics as a tool and materials planning engineer for 28 years before retiring in 1978.

Warren was a 32nd-degree Freemason and member of the Richland Hills Blue Lodge and Moslah Shrine Temple, earning his 50-year pin. He was an active member of Richland Hills Christian Church where he served as both deacon and elder. Warren was a scouting leader, serving as Cub Master and Scouting Coordinator.

He was extremely proud to have earned the status of master gardner with the Tarrant County Agricultural Extension Office. He taught gardening everywhere including Tarrant County College and was known as the "Tomato Man" for his joy of freely sharing his produce with everyone who knew him. He was an avid woodworker, completing many home improvement projects and many projects for local organizations.

Warren was a faithful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, showering affection on his family all the more as he aged.

Survivors: Wife, Merna; sons, Darryl G. and Ron; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.