Frances Ruth Albers

Green Valley, AZ -LTC Frances Ruth Albers, 91, of 700 South La Posada Circle passed away Monday, August 2, 2010 in La Posada. She was born Frances Ruth Kahrs on September 28, 1918 in Washington DC, the daughter of the late Frank and Olive Minnie Bachman Kahrs. She graduated High School in Verona, New Jersey in 1936. She attended the University of Michigan and was initiated into the women's honor society "Mortar Board" in 1939. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts on June 15, 1940. Frances joined the Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School, Smith College, in Northampton Massachusetts. Upon graduation she became a member of the Navy WAVES in 1943, less than a year after the first female commissioned officer was sworn into active duty in the US Navy. She was on active duty from 1943-1946 in Naval Communications during World War II, serving in several locations including Pearl Harbor, Washington DC and Oahu, Hawaii. She returned to active duty from 1950-1953 during the Korean conflict. Frances was married to Jack Norman Albers on June 26, 1951 in US Naval Security Station Chapel, Washington DC. She and Jack moved to the California desert where she worked for the Board of Civil Service Examiners at Edwards Air Force Base. Frances also worked for NASA at Edwards Air Force Base performing a variety of Personnel duties. She remained in the Navy Reserves until she retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1978. Frances enjoyed travel and after her retirement she worked as a travel advisor at a local travel agency and took trips overseas to check facilities and verify accommodations. Frances and Jack traveled throughout the US and to Cuba, Mexico, Egypt, Panama, Norway and most of Europe. They lived for several years on the California coast, but the call of the desert was strong and they ended up moving to Green Valley, Arizona where they spent the rest of their lives. Mr. Albers passed away on February 5, 2008. Mrs. Albers was an active member of the Green Valley Community Church. She is survived by her nephew Charles Higgins and his wife Carol of New Hartford, NY and niece Georgia Helthall and her husband Ric of Frederick, Maryland. Frances was pre-deceased by her husband Jack and sister Betty Higgins. Her funeral will be held privately at the convenience of her family. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Frances' online memorial page by going to www.iocovozzifuneralhomes.com