Virginia Elaine Albertson

Virginia Elaine Albertson died and went to heaven on Monday, May 9 at the age of 81. She was born April 15, 1930 in Mineola, New York, grew up in Monroe, New York, and moved to Tallahassee in 1955. Her family tree has been traced back to the 1600's. She is the direct descendent of a father and son who lived in Nahant, Massachusetts, and fought in the battle of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution. Elaine's strong sense of family and deep love for America was something she worked to instill in her own family. The primary legacy of Elaine Albertson was being the loving matriarch of a large and ever expanding family. Elaine was a devoted, loving wife to Bob Albertson for nearly 61 years, the mother of 5, and the grandmother of 14. On April 27th she became a great grandmother. As the strong, loving, and selfless matriarch of a large family, she also became a surrogate mother and grandmother to everyone who entered her home. As "Coach Bob's" wife for 43 years at Florida High School, the number of lives of students, athletes, and friends she touched across the decades is impossible to measure. Her home became a loving sanctuary to many. She asked everyone to call her Grandma, and nobody ever objected. At a large Family Reunion in Lake Tahoe in 1987, Elaine received the award for being "The Most Loving Person" in the family. Elaine was full of life, and had an adventurous spirit. She was fearless and willing to try anything. She and her husband took their family on countless adventures over the years, tent camping from coast to coast, exploring mountains, rivers, natural wonders and historic sites all across America. During her last year of life, she rode a jet ski with her grandchildren, hiked across the snowy plain below the Teton mountains with her husband and daughters, went scalloping with her grandchildren, and went to cooking school to expand her vast culinary skills. She was an avid fan of FSU sports, and rarely missed an FSU home basketball or football game, even when the football team lost every home game in 1973 and 1974 before the Bowden era began. She also loved working in her garden in the back yard. Elaine Albertson's light for Christ burned brightly for 81 years. She was a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in 1964, where she volunteered for many years. She gave her children and grand children a powerful, enduring legacy of faith, love, and family. Elaine is survived by her husband, Bob Albertson, her older brother, Jack Butler, her 5 children and their spouses Roy, Nancy, Carolyn (Bill), Diane (Jason), Richard (Elizabeth), and 14 grand children and their spouses, Amy Morgan (Wes), Andrew Albertson, Brian Kirts, Scott Kirts, Robert Barnes (Andrea), Gina Barnes, Samantha Lum, Shelby Lum, Cody Lum, Ashley Albertson, Rachel Albertson, Chip Albertson, Katie Albertson, and Kimberly Albertson, and one Great Grandson, Landon Barnes. The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 12 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2121 Old Bainbridge Road. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 13, 11:00 am at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2121 Old Bainbridge Road. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Florida High School Athletic Boosters or Florida High Music Department.

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Virginia Elaine Albertson

April 15, 1930 - May 9, 2011