Helen Louise Krouse Albert, 95, of 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, died at 6 a.m. June 27, 2009, at Grace Village, Winona Lake.
She was born July 14, 1913, as a 2-1/2-pound preemie on a farm near Argos to Fred and Mabel Middleton Krouse. On Dec. 25, 1933, in Plymouth, she married Herschel Albert.
They had almost 69 years together before he died in 2002. They lived near Leesburg for 60 years where she and her husband farmed and raised their five children.
She attended a one-room school through the eighth grade. She went two years to Argos High School where she was a member of the 1929 state runner-up girls high school basketball team. She graduated from LaPaz in 1931, where she also played basketball. She enjoyed returning for 78 years to attend the LaPaz alumni banquet.
She leaves a fine legacy for her family in her love of life through hard work and dedication to her family, church and community. She loved to be surrounded by her family and friends and especially enjoyed attending her great-grandchildren's ball games and activities. She loved basketball, watching the Cubs play, ice cream and anything sweet. She looked forward to attending the Albert reunions.
She was a member of the Leesburg United Methodist Church and the Dorcas sewing circle. She was a past matron of the Eastern Star, a member of the Leesburg Extension Homemakers since 1939 and a 4-H leader for many years. She was a past Kosciusko County Extension Homemaker's president, long-time attendee of Elko Retreat, a member of the Kosciusko County Fair Board, Leesburg Reading Club and she loved to play euchre, bingo and most any kinds of games. For the 20 years she and Herschel wintered in Florida she enjoyed competing on the shuffleboard court.
She is survived by three daughters: Sue Charlton, Leesburg; Nancy (and spouse Kent) Adams, Winona Lake; and Sally (and spouse Roger) Bair, Warsaw; two sons, Eugene (and spouse Bonnie) Albert, Chesterton, and Dan (and spouse Sandy) Albert, Cornelius, NC; 20 grandchildren: Scott, Craig and Clark Charlton; Troy, Todd, Trent and Tarik Albert; Kent II, Greg, Carol Jennings, Leah Ann Self and Mark Adams; Kari Osborne; Dani Virtel; David and Michael Sawyer and Kristine Palmer; Brant, Aaron and Shane Bair. She felt greatly blessed by her 46 great-grandchildren who brought great joy to her life. She never missed sending a birthday greeting to each one and received notes and pictures almost weekly. She was preceded in death by a sister, Pat Long; a son-in-law, Edward Charlton; and a great-granddaughter.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw, with the Rev. Paul Newman-Jacobs officiating. Burial will be at Leesburg Cemetery.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
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Memorials to Leesburg United Methodist Church, 111 E. Prairie St., Leesburg, IN 46538.
Condolences may be sent online at mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
