Alto O. Albright

1923-2010

Alto Albright of Ellensburg, WA died peacefully on May 26, 2010, at the home he had shared with three generations of his family following a lengthy battle with cancer. Alto was born Sept. 25, 1923, to John C. and Alma Albright in Windom, MN. He served in the 91st Infantry Div. in the Italian Campaign and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Alto graduated from the University of Washington and married Juanita McCorkle in 1950. After teaching in junior high schools in East Wenatchee, Kirkland and Redmond, WA, Alto invented, manufactured and successfully marketed tools for cutting mats for picture framing and fabric for patchwork. Alto held five patents and authored Matting Simplified.A child of the Corn Belt, he loved the alpine mountains of Washington State, serving thirteen summers as a Seasonal Ranger at Mt. Rainier National Park, and hiking the Wonderland Trail. Alto’s enthusiasms included art, baseball, lively music, apple pie and gadgets of all kinds, especially the latest cars, TVs and stereos. Alto traveled to all 50 states, much of Canada, and to Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He is survived by sisters Beulah Olson (Minneota, MN) and Opal Hayes (Windom, MN); by daughters K. Terry Thorsos (Woodinville, WA) and Gennie Albright Winkler (Lake Forest Park, WA) and son Samuel Alan Albright (Ellensburg, WA); and by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. For a richer portrait of Alto’s life, see

http://obit.hillcrestme-morialcenter.com/

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