Fred H. Albaugh

Fred peacefully entered Heaven on December 8, 2021 with his wife and children at his side. He was born on November 6, 1942 at home in Minerva. If you asked one hundred people who Fred Albaugh was, they'd all give you a different story but one similar thing everyone would say is that he was an incredible person. Fred had a dry sense of humor, a hearty laugh, boundless caring side that he didn't let everyone see.  He had a deep knowledge of the world.  He was proud of his family and everyone in it.  He would often say he might not hold your hand but he had your back. We knew we were loved. He loved his bride, Donna, of 60 years and back in the day sang "Simply the Best" and said Donna was the best he had ever met. They met as young adults and built their life together and grew from adolescent love to a mature love where their vows "in sickness and in health, until death do us part" truly became the reality.

What can be said about Fred is that he loved to tell stories, especially the story about Mom's cousin who tied his new Levi jeans to the study hall chair and ripped his new jeans...his brand new Levi jeans that his mother spent good money on. Fred would have a different version of the story depending on the crowd he was speaking to, but nonetheless an impactful event in his adolescent years and in the end he was always the superhero in that story. Fred worked 42 years at Kolcast/TRW/PCC Airfoils in Minerva, Ohio. He was a bantam football and little league baseball coach with his son. His team was the Browns and he watched his players grow into successful athletes. He overcame lymphoma seven years ago before this last occurrence and lived a life as the anchor of the family. Fred was the father that his daughters would say was their very first friend and the last love of their lives and his son would say he left an imprint on his life that will be forever and always had his back. He was a man who dared us to hope and dream then go after those desires. He would tell us to "be as good as we were meant to be."  Fred, like his daughter Sherri, took every challenge placed before him and learned to build faith in Jesus to carry him through this struggle. He took the disappointments and still maintained his sense of humor. He loved sports cars…corvette was his favorite, a true Chevy Man.  "I guess if you can't smoke the tires from 60 mph rolling start your engine needs more work."

He enjoyed traveling and seeing so many different sights. It is said he experienced 47 of the 50 states. Fred was a woodworker and made several types of wood furniture and his favorite pieces were his grandfather clocks. A home wasn't complete if it didn't have a grandfather clock. He would set each clock to tick on the hour just a hair off so that as one finished the others would start. That was his dry sense of humor and nobody ever touches those clocks to change it. It was family humor everytime it happened. He was a crafter and an engineer of complex train displays that he spent many hours with mom as a hobby. A piece of advice that he gave was he insisted that everyone should never go a year without a vacation. You always take a vacation, it doesn't matter where but go. Fred would say "if there was ever a time that we could not be together, keep me in your heart." Many people long for a father's love.  We had it.  We still have it. If Fred could give a message it would be to continue telling stories as stories connect us and unite us, take a vacation, and it is never too late to change. Fred is survived by his devoted wife Donna of 60 blissful years, a son Fred (Brenda) Albaugh of East Rochester, daughter Kim (Gary) Phelps of Minerva, and daughter Terri (Kevin) Santee of Conneaut, Ohio, son-in-law, Rob Imler of Minerva. His grandchildren are Nic Albaugh, Brandon (Paige) Phelps, Brittany (Derek) Muncy, and Breyton Santee. Three great grandchildren Leighton, Levi, and baby Muncy on the way, one sister Sally Rosentreater of Indiana and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter Sherri Lynn Albaugh Imler, his father Homer Albaugh, and his mother Celeste Albaugh. Private services will be held with the family with Pastor Les Bolen of Resurrection Life of Orwell officiating. He will be laid to rest in East Lawn Cemetery in Minerva.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Minerva Boosters Club c/o 501 Alemeda, Minerva, OH 44657.