Albert was born in Brundage, Texas, but at age five, his family moved to Taft, Florida. He remembered that he had to leave his tricycle behind because there wasn't room on the truck. His dad bought a farm in Taft, where he raised oranges and chickens.
Albert attended Taft Public Schools from grades 1-8. At 16, the farm changed to a dairy farm. He then attended high school in Orlando, Florida, where he graduated.
In 1954, Albert joined the Air Force, doing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. In May of that same year, he attended Personnel School at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. September of 1954 would bring big changes – he moved overseas to Erding Air Force Base in Germany, where he spent almost three years and had his first daughter Naomi. February of 1957 would bring him to another overseas post, this time at Sculthorpe Air Force Base in England where he had his son Tommy.
Albert would return to American soil in January of 1958 when he was assigned to Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia where he had Debora and Elaine. Two years later, in May of 1960, he would find himself stationed in Okinawa, Japan. While he was stationed there, he was given a temporary duty station in Vietnam for four months, while away Teresa was born. He said, “That was the worst time of my military career.” In 1962, he came to Wichita, Kansas and settled at McConnell Air Force Base. He was discharged from the Air Force in March of 1965. Ultimately, Albert would join the Air National Guard in 1970 for nine years, and the rest is history!
Albert would marry the love of his life, Helen Winona Mickey, on May 27, 1967, and added four more children to their home. He worked at Cessna Aircraft for 29 years as a welder. His proudest accomplishment was becoming a member of the Church of the Nazarene.
Before he passed, Albert once wrote, “I was blessed with a big family. I’m a simple man.”
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; seven siblings; and son, Edward Joseph Winters.
Albert is survived by daughters, Teresa Tucker, Gail Worlein, Anita Flowers, Naomi Brown, Debora Petree, Elaine (Arnoldo) Matamoros, Teresa (Frank) Rash; son, Tommy Rogers; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 19 great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022 in the chapel at DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary at 10:00 a.m. Committal will follow at Kechi Cemetery.
