Table of Contents
Avery
Albert Avery
+Ruth Avery
|-Albert Avery
|-Carl Avery
|-Karen Avery
Albert Avery
Albert E. Avery was an employee of the Eastern Territory and a member of the New York Staff Band.
Obituary
“Everybody needs an Albert,” family members and friends often said of Al Avery. His eagerness to help people find solutions to their problems, especially technology issues, became his trademark.
He came by his concern for others early, through the example of his officer-parents, Lt. Colonels Albert and Ruth Avery. Born in Glen Ridge, NJ, he attended various Salvation Army corps with them throughout his childhood. Enrolled as a senior soldier at Cleveland Temple, OH in 1975, he remained actively involved in corps ministry as an adult in Kearny, NJ, Newburgh, NY and then Montclair Citadel, NJ.
His commitment to serving God and people through The Salvation Army is evident in his 32-year employment at territorial headquarters. Most of those years were spent in the Information Technology Department, where he was given increasing responsibility and respect, finally as the WAN Administrator. A graduate of Bloomfield High School, he received certification in computer studies from Bloomfield College and as his father pointed out, “grew up with the technology.”
For 25 of those years, Al was also a percussionist with the New York Staff Band. For some time, he was a member of the New Direction, a contemporary singing group of the Kearny Corps. He loved all music so that his wife Lois said, “He didn’t have a favorite hymn, because he loved them all and would sing with them—whether he knew them or not!”
His marriage to the former Lois Forrider on June 18, 2005 began a wonderful new chapter in his life. Through her, he became a faithful member of Montclair Citadel and of the audio-visual team. Major Larry Ashcraft, corps commanding officer, said of his service, “Al always calmed us down when we couldn’t figure stuff out. We’ll probably find out that he did a lot more than we realized.”
Al enjoyed hiking and camping, especially with a close-knit group of friends, the Bittersweet Campers. He had a great love for children and became “Uncle Al” to many, especially the children of that group. And when he and Lois became parents, his joy knew no bounds. He was proud of all of his son’s accomplishments and made sure that he was present for every T-Ball game five-year-old Adam played this year.
On May 17, after an unexpected medical crisis, Al was ushered into Heaven, surrounded by loved ones as they listened to a recording of his father singing, “There’ll be no sorrow in God’s tomorrow.” He will be deeply missed by his wife Lois, son Adam, parents, brother Major Carl Avery, sister Karin Muir, a host of family members, friends and colleagues. But they are reassured to know that he is home with the Lord and that he will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.