Obituary of Harley M. Albro

Harley M. Albro, 83, of Homer, NY passed away Saturday, July 25, 2015 at home with his family. Born July 7, 1932, Freetown, NY to Nelson and Leona (Pease) Albro. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Teresa (Nottingham) Albro; their three children Philip and Doris (Gridley) Albro, Stephen and Anne Fitzgerald Albro, Karen and Michael Dillon; granddaughters Adriel and Leanne Albro; his brother Floyd and Eloise Albro; many cousins, nieces, nephews, their families and an amazing number of lifetime friends. Harley graduated Cortland High School, 1950. He attended Wheaton College and graduated Cortland State, 1954, with a degree in education. He served the U.S. Army in Korea, 1955-56. He began his 24-year career in education with Homer Central School District in 1957, retiring as principal of the Homer Junior High School in 1981. He achieved a Masters of School Administration from Cornell University in 1971. He made a second career with The Wilkins Company, 1981-1997. In 2014, Davis College honored him with a Doctorate of Divinity. Throughout his life he served numerous community organizations, including Rotary International, Salvation Army Advisory Board, TC3 Foundation, Ralph R. Wilkins Foundation, Family Counseling Services, Kiwanis Club, YMCA, United Way for Cortland County, Cortland Memorial Hospital Foundation, Center for the Arts Board and was a long-time sustaining member of the Baden-Powell Council of the Boy Scouts of America. His interests and support touched those organizations which enrich a community: schools, theaters, and museums. Harley accepted Christ as his personal savior at the age of 7. When his family moved "to town" in 1941 he joined the congregation of Memorial Baptist Church, later re-organized as Church of the Redeemer. He was a Baptist lay minister. He directed and taught VBS and Sunday School. He organized and chaired Christian Service Brigade. In his more than 70 years with the church he was honored to serve his Savior and Lord as a Deacon and Elder. He took much pleasure from camping, fishing and travel; he learned fly-tying, woodcarving and golf; he shared his passions with family, friends and those he could interest through his stories and instruction. Everything had a story and every story another story. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wright-Beard Funeral Home, 9 Lincoln Ave.. Cortland. A memorial service will be held at Church of the Redeemer, 125 Tompkins St., Cortland, Wednesday at 10 a.m., Reverend Mick Leary presiding. Interment at Cortland Rural Cemetery immediately follows. Harley dedicated his life to faith, education and community—in lieu of flowers please consider memorial donations to organizations he served: Church of the Redeemer, TC3 Foundation, Rotary Foundation or community institutions such as the Cortland Rural Cemetery.