Obituary - James W. Albright

James W. Albright, 91

James W. Albright, 91, a lifetime resident of Juliaetta and Spalding, passed away Monday, Sept. 19, 2011, at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation in Lewiston, (formerly Lewiston Rehabilitation and Care Center), due to infirmities of age.

He was born at Lookout, Idaho, Jan. 26, 1920, to Raleigh W. and Lora Jean Albright, the oldest of four children. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1938.

In 1941, Jim married and had two children. The oldest son and his wife live at the original Albright farm south of Juliaetta. The second son and his wife live in Plant city, Fla. In 1948, Jim married again and they had two children. His daughter and her husband live in Clarkston; his son and his wife live in Meridian, Idaho.

Jim worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corp. after marriage in 1941 in California, before being called to serve his country in World War II that prompted his lifetime love of aircraft and flying. His favorite airplane of that time was the P-38. He often talked about the incredible performance of the plane as well as the problems Lockheed was working on at that time with it. After his discharge from the armed services, he and his brother founded Albright's Poultry on 18th Street in Lewiston. Jim and his brother raised chickens and turkeys at the Juliaetta farm with their mom and dad and processed the poultry at the Lewiston plant for many years. In the middle of the Albright poultry time, his country called again and Jim served two years in the Air Force in the Korean War. Later Jim founded Arrow Aviation Co., doing aerial spray work, operating at the Lewiston Airport and the Juliaetta farm. A freak windstorm at the Juliaetta farm blew away the hangar and scattered airplanes and parts all over the canyon. Later Jim bought and flew a McCulloch Gyrocopter that he could land and take off from his Last Page at Spalding.

Anyone who knew Jim for any length of time could not help but know of his love of Chevrolets and his dislike of Fords; he talked about it often and had a lot of fun doing it.

Jim worked for the Railway Express Co. and Coleman Oil Co., retiring in the early '80s. He was president of the musicians union 664 at Lewiston for many years and played the bass fiddle in several bands around the area. He was also a longtime member of the Banana Belt Good Sams at Lewiston and enjoyed traveling in his 1947 Spartan motor Last Page. During retirement, Jim enjoyed woodworking, mining his claims at Orogrande, snowmobiling and making tools.

Jim is survived by his wife of 63 years at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation in Lewiston; four children; a brother and sister; 15 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Bonnie Marjorie Hayton.

A graveside service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens. Vassar-Rawls Funeral Last Page is in charge of arrangements.

His family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation, and his doctor and staff. The family suggests that memorial gifts be made to Tri-State Memorial Hospital in Clarkston or the charity of the giver's choice.

Lewiston Tribune, September 22, 2011, p. 5C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock