Albert H. Hurst Sr.

Albert was a man cut from a different era, a tough man who lived through tough times. He was one of our Greatest Generation, and a man who knew the value, honor and dignity in a hard day's work, and in proud service to his country. He was a husband, father and grandfather, but more than anything, Albert was a man who led so many others by example. His lessons were hard learned, but they live on in those who knew him today. The year was 1918, and our great nation was nearing the end of World War I, after four years of difficult, costly battle. It was a time of hope for so many, a hope for peace, and a hope for something better for our nation's children. And in the town of Gadsden, Alabama, one young family had their own reasons for hope, and celebration, with the birth of their second child, a son. Albert Henry Hurst was born August 19, 1918, on a sweltering hot Monday in Gadsen, to Armstard H. and Lillian (Howard) Hurst. Albert was the second of three children, joining older sister Lorene and later sister Jackie. Albert's father was a foundry worker, with a tireless ethic, and in the years of the Great Depression did whatever he had to for his family's well-being. Albert attended school in Alabama through the eighth grade, when he, like so many of his time, quit school to work to help his family. Living through the Great Depression had such an impact on Albert, like it did so many, and instilled in him a lifelong appreciation for hard work. Life was hard on the Hursts in those dark days, and the family moved around to many different places in search of something better. The Hursts eventually moved north, far away in Buffalo, New York, which was quite a change from the little town of Gadsden, Alabama. There his father found work at a local foundry, while Albert began seeking his own path. The darkening skies of World War II were looming on our nation's horizon, and like so many of his countrymen, Albert was ready to defend his country's freedom. Albert enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he became part of an artillery battalion, stationed in Hawaii and later the Philippines. He was a strong and tough young man, and his fellow soldiers quickly nicknamed him "Sharkey," a name that stuck and quite a few people knew him by. After the war Albert returned to New York, where he took a job at Buffalo Pipe and Foundry, like his father before him. It was very difficult work, extremely hot and dirty, but it was an honest living, which is all Albert ever asked for. He was a tough man, of course, and the kind of man who was a natural leader, and quickly was named foreman and ran several different departments in the foundry. One day Albert met a young woman named Violet Jean Dixon, and the two hit it off. Their courtship ended with them exchanging vows, as they were married on July 17, 1947. Soon the happy young Hurst couple would welcome their first child, a wonderful baby boy named Albert III, born in 1948. Son Phillip added to the family in 1949, and daughter Linda in 1963. Albert was an attentive father, and very involved with his children as they grew, despite his difficult job. He was never much of a sports fan, but he attended his sons' football games and wrestling matches over the years, and eventually became a fan. He couldn't help but be very proud of his children. Albert also taught his children the value of hard work from an early age, and everyone had to do their part around the Hurst home. In 1952, the family bought an 18-acre farm in Wheatfield Township, just outside the city lights of Buffalo, and Al farmed the land in addition to his foundry job! He would always say if you had a farm, you could always put food on the table. You might not have much, but you'd certainly never go hungry. The farmhouse needed a lot of work, but that of course didn't deter the hardworking Albert. Together with his sons, he made many, many improvements to the home over the years. The home didn't have indoor plumbing, just an outhouse, so he and his sons raised up the house and put in a brand-new foundation and plumbing, even building a cistern for the water supply! Al remodeled the entire home, though, and put hardwood flooring in, as well. Outside the farmhouse was even more work to be done, of course. The family raised livestock, and at one time had 200 hogs! As if that wasn't enough work to keep him busy, Albert and a buddy also started a small pattern shop, which they ran out of the barn. Al was very good with tools, naturally, and was an expert craftsman. Sadly, Albert's marriage to Violet ended in the early 1970s, and he never remarried. And in 1981, his daughter Linda was tragically killed in a car accident by a drunk driver, at just 18 years old. But Albert persevered. He handled these tragedies the way he handled every hardship in his life: he just worked harder. He retired from the foundry after 33 years of hard work there, but he of course never stopped working. He began working as a custodian at Starpoint High School, part-time at first and later full-time, and worked there for 27 years. He also worked at a local bakery, and then learned to become a nurses' aid at a nursing home. There were times after he retired from the foundry that he worked two jobs and 80 hours a week! Albert finally - and officially - retired at the age of 82, but even then he still owned a large house with two apartments attached, and he maintained that building's upkeep. Albert's life wasn't all work and no play, however. One of his greatest loves was going to the casino. He was a very good gambler, though, and usually came out ahead. He even had a craps table in his basement, and his son Albert III remembers how his Dad could really roll those dice! The casinos in Atlantic City remember, too, for all the money he won there. He used to go on junkets there, flying from Buffalo to Atlantic City, but his flights always ended up being free because of all the money he won! While Albert loved to gamble, it was always later in life, when his children had grown. He wasn't the kind of man who would gamble away his paycheck, of course. His family always came first. Always. He could be tough and gruff with them, and was at times hard on his grandkids, it was just the way he was. His favorite saying was always "What in the Sam Hell ..." at whatever nonsense his kids or grandkids got into - a phrase granddaughter Carrie remembers well. But they always knew how much he loved them. He loved his children dearly, as well as his seven grandkids and 10 great-grandchildren. In recent years, Albert wasn't taking care of himself very well - he was always better at taking care of others - so his son Al brought him to Muskegon to be closer to him. After all those years of tireless work, his body was simply worn out. Albert died on Saturday, February 11, 2006, after a lifetime of hard work. He was a tough man, who lived through tough times, a man who always did what he could for his family. He was a father, grandfather and veteran, a man who led so many by example. His lessons live on, in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. Mr. Albert H. Hurst, Sr., age 87, died Saturday, February 11, 2006 in Muskegon, Michigan. He was born in Gadsden, AL on August 19, 1918 to Armstard H. & Lillian (Howard) Hurst. Mr. Hurst had been employed as a foundry foreman at Buffalo Pipe & Foundry for 33 years & then was a custodian at Starpoint High School for 27 years. He served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII. Survivors include 2 sons, Albert Hurst III of Muskegon & Phillip Hurst of VA; 7 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Lorene West of NY. He was preceded in death his daughter, Linda in 1981. Service: A private family service will be held. You may sign the online guest book at www.lifestorynet.com