Albert R. Elby

Albert R. Elby, age 85, went home to be with his Lord on December 22, 2009. He passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family and special caregivers. He was a resident of Sierra Madre, California for 52 years. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ida Krull Elby, their 4 children: Valene Stead (husband Randy and three children Jordan, Bethany and Michael); Nina Coull (and three children Lauren, Christina and Austin); Mark Elby (wife Karen and two children Nicole and Brooke); Erica Zetterlund (husband Tim and two children Brittany and Cameron) and his niece Lisa Reed (husband Robin and two children Rachel and Forrest). Albert was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1924 and was raised in the Washington Heights area of New York City by his single mother, Vartoohi Elby, who had escaped the Armenian Massacre. He served in the 99th infantry of the Army during WWII and was captured in the Battle of the Bulge on December 16, 1944, where he was a POW for 4 months until he successfully escaped from the German prison camp. After an honorable discharge he worked at Zareh’s, his uncle’s haberdashery, in Boston. In 1949, he graduated from Clark University with a BA in history and after marrying Ida in 1952, moved to Sierra Madre, where they built their home, raised their children and Ida still resides there today. He owned and operated LaLone Dry Cleaners in downtown Sierra Madre from 1955-1965, after which time he became self employed. Albert can be described as a man who had a gentle spirit, great sense of humor, kind and generous heart, true servant’s attitude, great love for the Lord, his family and his country, and lived his life with “an attitude of gratitude.” He had a passion for classical music and dance, traditional church hymns, studying and teaching scripture, appreciation of art, writing, cooking and watching movies. He especially loved spending time with family and friends at his Lake Arrowhead cabin. He spent decades serving at Bethany Church in many capacities including the Deacon and Elder Boards, Sunday School teacher, business administrator, mentor, small group leader, and is most well known for the 34 years he was “Uncle Al” at Bethany’s Vacation Bible School. He was a loving, supportive, and encouraging son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. A service to celebrate his life is scheduled for January 9, 2010 at 1:30pm at Bethany Church of Sierra Madre, 93 N. Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre, California 91024. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be sent to Bethany Church.