ALBERT M. AVERY JR.
Oct. 25, 1921-Nov. 15, 2015
Albert Mellon Avery Jr., 94, formerly of Goldsboro, N.C., passed away peacefully Nov. 15, 2015.
Albert "Al" was born in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 25, 1921. He was the only child of the late Albert Mellon Avery Sr. and Thelma Walker Avery.
After graduating from high school in Memphis, Tenn., Albert earned a bachelor's degree in commerce from the University of Mississippi in 1943, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He also received a master's degree in political science from Stetson University in Deland, Fla., in 1957.
Albert joined the United States Army in 1942, and was a veteran of World War II and Vietnam. He retired in 1972 with the rank of colonel. During his 30-year career, he served in a variety of armor units, and received numerous awards for his distinguished service to his country.
During World War II, Albert served as a platoon leader in a reconnaissance unit in the European Theater of Operations. He received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Star Medals with "V" device for his participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.
His army career also included two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he served as a senior armor advisor to the South Vietnamese Army. He was instrumental in organizing the South Vietnamese Armor School, and was awarded the South Vietnamese Distinguished Service Medal.
Col. Avery also received two Legion of Merit Awards from the United Sates Army for his exceptional service in Vietnam.
While stationed in Tokyo, Japan, then Maj. Avery married then Capt. Sarah Ellis from the Rosewood community of Goldsboro Dec. 15, 1962.
After their retirement from the United States Army, Albert and Sarah were very active in a variety of civic organizations. Because of their interest in South Vietnam, they were instrumental in the adoption of two Vietnamese families while living in Clearwater, Fla. They were particularly proud of their two adopted families as seven of nine of the children graduated from college.
In later years while living in the North Carolina mountains, they were honored for their volunteer service in Avery County, N.C.
In addition to his parents, Col. Avery was predeceased by his loving wife, Lt. Col. Sarah Ellis Avery.
Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Avery Mounger and husband, Whitman, of Greenwood, Miss.; a son, Albert M. Avery III of Las Vegas, Nev.; a grandson, Davis Mounger of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two granddaughters, Avery Mounger Lee and husband, Hunter, of Jackson, Miss., and Jennifer Avery Wilner and husband, Howard, of Pleasanton, Calif.; and five great-grandchildren, Bramble Mounger, Avery Lee, Anna Clinton Lee, Jacob Wilner and Joshua Wilner.
Albert is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Cleone Ellis of Apex and Carolyn Thompson of Goldsboro; one brother-in-law, Harold Ellis and wife, Martha Ann, of Goldsboro; and many nieces and nephews.
A service to celebrate Albert's life will take place Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at 2 p.m. in Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home chapel, 2873 U.S. 117 South, Dudley, N.C.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Inurnment will be in Wayne Memorial Park with full graveside military honors following the service.
The family would like to extend its deepest appreciation to the staff of Windsor Point Continuing Care Retirement Center in Fuquay-Varina, N.C., for the compassion and personal care it gave to both Albert and Sarah from the day they arrived in 2008.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home is serving the family, and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org; Shadow Ridge Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1181, Holly Springs, N.C., 27540; or the charity of your choice.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on November 18, 2015 1:49 PM