Albert Waters

Albert Theodore Waters
December 17, 1921-January 14, 2016
Myrtle Beach, SC
Albert Theodore Waters, 94, of Myrtle Beach passed away at home on Thursday, January 14, 2016, with his loving family by his side. He was born in Utica, New York on December 17, 1921. Albert served as an altar boy and also worked at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Utica from age 8 to 17. He attended St. Patrick's School and Utica Free Academy. At age 17 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and was stationed at camp S-122 in Boonville, New York. There he initially worked on reforestation projects and later served as a camp mechanic, electrician and blacksmith. On December 4, 1940 he was honorably discharged from the CCC and joined the United States Navy the very next day. After enlisting, Albert temporarily served aboard the seaplane tender USS Albemarle (AV-5) for approximately two months, while awaiting a request to be transferred to another ship. On January 31, 1941, he was assigned to the destroyer USS Edison (DD-439), which conducted North Atlantic anti-submarine and convoy escort duty. During World War II, Albert sailed around the globe participating in naval operations and battles in numerous countries and territories. By age 21, he had earned the rank of Chief Radioman. The Edison received 6 battle stars for Escort/Anti-Submarine operations in the European-African-Middle Eastern campaign and fire support for the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, and Southern France. In addition to ribbons and medals received for the aforementioned operations, Albert also received the New York State Medal of Merit, CCC Medal of Appreciation, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. At the end of the war, the Edison was training at Pearl Harbor. Beginning in September of 1945, Albert participated in the occupation of Japan until early November of that year when the Edison left Nagoya for duty in the Aleutian Islands. He was honorably discharged on February 2, 1947 in Charleston, SC. He worked for Terry Sign Company in Charleston for 16 years and with Tyson Sign Company in Myrtle Beach for 25 years, retiring in 1986. Albert was predeceased by his parents Mary Catherine Doyle and Theodore Albert Waters of Utica,NY; brothers George Vincent Waters,Sr. Of Whitesboro, NY, and Kenneth John Waters of Scottsdale, AZ; sister Marion Jenny of Clinton, NY; sons Albert Theodore Waters,Jr. Of Charleston, James Vincent Waters of Myrtle Beach, and John Francis Waters of Charleston. He is survived by his wife of 52 years Peggy Hedgecock Waters; children Michael Doyle Waters (Natalie) of Loris, Theodore Albert Waters of Myrtle Beach, Arthur Russell Waters (Tammy) of Texarkana, Arkansas, Fred Gwyn Golden of Ona, Florida, and Diana M. "Mitsy" Pate (Richard) of North Myrtle Beach; grandchildren Christopher Colton Pate, Blake Russell Waters, Emily Elizabeth Waters, and Cody Haworth Waters. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Neil Trask and all of the staff at Cardiology/Gastro Associates, Incare Hospice, and would like to recognize son Ted for his daily care and support. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Friday, January 15, 2016, at McMillan-Small Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 16, 2016. Interment will take place at a later date in High Point, NC. An online guest book is available at www.msfh.net