DONALD J. ALBERS

Don was born in the town of Alton, IL on May 25, 1934, to Arthur J. and Elisabeth Albers. He was the first born of their six children.

Don graduated from Alton, Illinois’ Marquette Catholic High School in 1952, and attended St. Benedict’s College (now named Benedictine College) in Atchison, Kansas for three years. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955, serving his country for nearly three years at Fort Bliss, Texas. Don was honorably discharged in 1958.

After serving his country, Don returned to Alton and finished his education at the University of Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy (now named Missouri University of Science and Technology) in Rolla, Missouri, where he earned a degree in Metallurgical Engineering with a Nuclear Engineering Option in 1961.

Don was married to Victoria Ann Albers on September 1, 1962. They met in 1961 when they both worked at Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, PA.

Don and Vicki moved from Pittsburgh to St. Clairsville, OH with their three children in June of 1974. Don worked for Blaw-Knox – then a division of White Consolidated Industries (WCI) – from 1974-1994, before taking a job with Teledyne Ohio Steel. In 1999, Don joined Lucent Technologies, a spin-off of the AT&T Corporation that manufactured various telecommunications equipment and included the renowned Bell Labs. Don retired at the end of 2001.

Don was a highly intelligent yet humble man who enjoyed learning new things and, like most engineers, loved to understand how complex systems worked. He enjoyed playing tennis, working on cars, and practicing his Catholic faith with his wife and family. He will be remembered as a strict but loving father and grandfather who instilled the importance of faith, family, and character in his children and grandchildren.

Don and Vicki regularly traveled to visit their children and grandchildren, whether to celebrate a holiday, a big occasion, or just because. They would sing “Happy Birthday” over the phone to every one of their children and grandchildren every year, something that meant more to them than could ever be expressed in words. Don and Vicki were a constant reminder that a life built on a foundation of faith and family would make you strong enough to handle life’s most difficult trials and tribulations.

Don was an active member of St. Mary’s Church in St. Clairsville, OH throughout his life. His oldest grandchildren fondly remember Don and Vicki’s devotion to praying the Rosary in their living room daily. He had a beautiful relationship with his wife and left an indelible mark on his children and grandchildren by showing them what a marriage should look like.

When Vicki’s health began to decline, Don immediately stepped into a lovingly caretaking role, a role that Vicki had previously played in the marriage. Their teamwork and unbreakable love for one another is something the family will always remember.

In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his wife, Vicki, brother, Robert J. Albers, and sister, Joan Marie Albers.

He is survived by three brothers, Richard Albers of (Oconomowoc, WI), Jim (Ginny) Albers of (Bonney Lake, WA), and John (Santica Marcovina) Albers of (Bremerton, WA). He is survived by one daughter, Susan (Richard) Yarborough of Westlake, OH; two sons, Christopher (Marcia) Albers of Edinburgh, IN, and Paul (Susan) Albers of Seneca, SC.

Don is also survived by 9 grandchildren, Justin, Ryan, Phillip, Patrick, Anna, Mark, Kyle, Luke and Joe; and 3 great grandchildren, Emery, Brooks, and Arlo.

A vigil service will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2025, at Toothman Funeral Home, 141 S. Marietta Street, St. Clairsville, OH. Visitation will follow the vigil service from 5:15 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 72581 Colerain Road Colerain, OH. Burial and a military honors ceremony will follow at Union Cemetery, 201 Maple Avenue, St. Clairsville, OH.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Miracle of Life Support Group, P.O. Box 273, St. Clairsville, OH 43950, or given to Sue Yarborough, who will be a participant in the October 18th Cleveland Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home for those donations.