Obituary: Ralph J. Albert

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Published on Monday, 05 December 2011 14:06

Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. from the St. Matthew Catholic Church with Rev. Carl Janocha and Deacon Paul Albert officiating.  Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery under the direction of the Martin Funeral Home of Elk City.

Ralph J. Gibran Albert was born April 12, 1916 in Drumright, Oklahoma to John Gibran Albert and Sadie (Shadid) Albert.  Ralph passed away peacefully at home in Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday December 3, at the age of 95.

Ralph’s family moved to Wichita, Kansas when he was a young boy but later returned to Drumright, OK where he graduated from Drumright High School.  Ralph attended the University of Oklahoma School of Business.  After working in his father’s dry goods business in Drumright, Ralph moved to Elk City, Ok in 1939 and started the R.J. Albert Tobacco Company.  The name later changed to Albert Brothers Candy & Tobacco as his father and brothers joined in the business.  In 1949 Ralph also started Albert Brothers of Altus which was a beer wholesale distribution company and later became an Anheuser-Busch distributorship.  Ralph was a first generation American whose parents immigrated to the United States from Lebanon.  Ralph loved fishing on Foss Lake with his family and friends as well as golfing with his buddies.

Ralph served in World War II in the Quartermasters Corps.  When Ralph returned from the war he was married to Frieda Ann Maloof on June 25th, 1944 in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Ralph served on the board of directors of the “Oklahoma Tobacco and Candy Association” and also the “Oklahoma Malt Beverage Association” for over forty years.  He was a past member of the Elk City Rotary Club and was a past president of the Holy Name Society of the old St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  Ralph was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church of Elk City.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years Frieda Maloof Albert, one daughter Patricia Albert Fields, two brothers Ned Albert and Raymond Albert, and one sister Helen Albert Koury.

Survivors include: two children Nancy Kersey and her husband Jim of Edmond, OK, Jimmy Albert and his wife Patty of Elk City, OK; one son-in-law Dennis Fields of Oklahoma City.  He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Scott Kersey and wife Rossio, Jennifer Kersey Hardin and husband Justin, Patrick Fields, Andrew Albert and Christina Albert; four great grandchildren, “twins” Michelle and Angeline Kersey and Tyler and Blake Hardin; two sisters Blanche Alex of Flint, MI and Frances Khoury of Oklahoma City, OK and one sister-in-law Wilma Albert of Tulsa, OK.  He also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers, doctors and hospice for the wonderful and loving care given to Ralph.

The family request memorials in Mr. Albert’s name made to: St. Matthew Building Fund (3001 E Hwy 66, Elk City, OK 73644), St. Vincent DePaul’s in Elk City (3001 E Hwy 66, Elk City, OK 73644) or the Elk City Education Foundation (P.O. Box 1009, Elk City, OK  73648).  An online registry is available at www.martinfhok.com.