James L. Albright

James Lewis Albright Sr. 93, of Benton Harbor, passed away at Woodland Terrace, Bridgman, MI, on May 4. He was born on June 29, 1917 in North Liberty, Indiana to Henry O. and Grace (Houseman) Albright. In 1920, the family moved to Decatur, Michigan where Henry died in 1923. James and his three siblings remained with their mother in Decatur, where he graduated from high school in 1935. After graduation, James relocated to Three Oaks where he learned the machinist and tool making trade at Warren Featherbone. In 1940 he married Ada Muth of Coloma and worked in Rockford, Illinois for about two years before returning to St. Joseph to work at Nylen Products. He started his own machine shop in the middle 1940's and pursued that trade for 30 years before selling his business to work for Modern Plastics Corporation in the early 1970's. He retired from Modern Plastics in 1980. He enjoyed playing golf, working in his basement shop and traveling with Ada during his retirement. Following the death of his wife Ada, he later married Helen Bender and continued his golf and other interests. James is survived by his sons, James L. (Patricia) Albright II of St. Joseph and Thomas E. (Jewel) Albright of Reading, PA and grandchildren Scott (Kerri) Albright, Gretchen (Randy) Wendtland, Philip (Reegan) Albright, Douglas (Kristen) Albright, Grace (Tom) Dykstra, Laura (Steve) Jaeger, Catherine (John) Glassman, Adam (Becky) Callender , 21 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by step children Timothy (Barbara) Bender of Midland, MI and Terri Palma of Coloma, MI. and their children and grandchildren. James was a lifetime member of Zion Evangelical Church of St. Joseph. He was preceded in death by his wife Ada in 1988 and his second wife Helen in 1999, sister Marjorie (Albright) Howe, brothers John and Harry Albright, grand daughter Ellen (Callender) Ireland in 2005 and great grand daughter Tricia Dykstra in 1986. Services will be at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI, on Saturday, May 7 at 10:00 AM. Burial to follow at North Shore Memory Gardens after the service. Visitation will be on Saturday, May 7 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Memorials may be made to Zion Evangelical Church or to the Marie Yeager Cancer Center. Those wishing to sign Jim's Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.