Daniel Albright Obituary

(Wichita Falls, TX) - Lt. Col. Daniel "Dan" Albright, 72, of Wichita Falls, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2009. A graveside service was conducted at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at West Hill Cemetery in Sherman, TX.Dan was the son of the late Harold and Esther (Campbell) Albright. He was born on December 14, 1936 in Niagara Falls, NY. He was raised in the small farming community of Wilson, NY on the shores of Lake Ontario. He graduated from Wilson High School in 1954. He attended college at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH, graduating in 1958 with a B.A. degree in Psychology. At that time he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force. Lt. Albright began his military career at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, reporting in October 1958. His move from Wilson, NY to San Antonio was accomplished via a 1957 MGA convertible with all his worldly possessions in the very small trunk, as well as passenger compartment. He was then stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls.At the old age of 25, he served as Captain during the Cuba Crisis and was Crew Chief Commander in the Missile Silo out of Abilene. It was during this tour that Dan met a rancher and learned to break horses. He soon learned he was a Texan in heart and spirit.Throughout the rest of his military career, Dan was stationed in Rome, NY, Oklahoma City, Thailand, Vietnam, Germany and Washington, D.C. During his tour in southeast Asia he lead secret commando missions into Laos and Cambodia. He was later working with the Office of Special Investigation and was stationed at Ramstcin Air Force Base in Germany. While working in Germany he became acquainted with the German Director of all NATO personnel, who visited him for several years after his retirement. Dan enjoyed traveling throughout Europe and especially loved Austria.After his tour in Germany, Col. Albright was then transferred to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where he was working with the Office of Special Investigation and worked with top secret clearances. Dan proudly served our country until retiring in 1979 as Lt. Colonel. He then went back to Wichita Falls where he was employed at Midwestern State University from 1980 to 1995. It was there Dan met his wife, Ruby Wallace Rawn, and they later married in April 1999. He was a member of Grace Church and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Dan loved being out in the woods, as well as fishing on Lake Ontario just blocks from his childhood home.He is survived by his loving wife, Ruby Rawn Albright of Wichita Falls, TX; daughters, LeAnne Henderson, Britt Rothenborg and Cindy Arnold; step-son, Thomas Henderson and four grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Cindy Townsend (Gerald) of Youngstown, NY; niece, Heather Anello (Sal) and nephew, Scott Townsend (Amy), also of Youngstown, NY; four grand-nephews and one grand-niece. He will be sadly missed by his special four-legged buddy, Cooper.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Grace Church Building Fund, 5214 Stonelake, Wichita Falls, TX 76302, or to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, TX 76310.Visit www.legacy.com/niagara-gazette for online guest register.