Ronald Neal Albright, 79, passed away following an illness on Saturday afternoon April 1, 2017 at the Hospice House of South Bend.
A resident of Plymouth since 1964, coming from Logansport, Indiana, Ron was born on March 31, 1938 in Royal Center, Indiana the son of Thurman D. and Garnett R. (Cotner) Albright. He graduated from Logansport High School with the Class of 1956. It was there he met his love Patricia Ann Dixon and on March 1st 1957 the two eloped to Fulton, Indiana where a Justice of the Peace pronounced them man and wife while the Indiana State Police were looking for them. Their Christian Faith, respect for one another and love of family allowed them to recently celebrate 60 years together.
On May 9, 1964, Ron would graduate from the Indiana State Police Academy. He excelled in firearm precision and as a member of the I.S.P. Pistol Team twice won Grand National titles. He was an enthusiast of firearms and had an encyclopedic knowledge of their history. Ron was a member of the F.O.P. Post 24 and retired as a Master Trooper on March 24, 1993. While serving, Ron led by example and reserved a unique ability to convey information so as to be understood by those needing to be addressed and his family was reminded by Ron that…â€Intelligence is like a watch, you only take it out when you need it.â€
Ron believed in lifelong learning, he became an accomplished recreational pilot in a Piper Cub, loved woodworking, especially cherry and prided his antique tools.
He is survived by his loving wife Patricia, four children and their families: Veronica E. & Paul Thomas of Plymouth and children; Caleb, Katherine, Molly, Shane P. Albright and daughter Ginny, Bridget E. & Mark Langkamp of Lakewood, CO and children; Emily Ann, Angela and Darren James, Jamie A. Albright of Plymouth and children; Jacob Ronald, Lexie R. Delanie A. Garrett A. and Addison E. Six great-grandchildren include: Crystal, Gage, Arra, Addy, Brenden and Banks. A sister-in-law Helen Albright of Marietta, Georgia also survives.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, a son Christopher N. Albright and a brother H. Dean Albright.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017 from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Services will be held on Friday, April 7th at 11 a.m. in the funeral home.
Burial with Indiana State Police Honors will follow in the New Oak Hill Cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial gifts may be made to The Center for Hospice Care, 112 S. Center St., Plymouth, IN 46563 or the Indiana State Police Benevolence Fund, 1415 Shelby St., Indianapolis, IN 46203.