More detail on this person: MAJOR (RET)
CRAIG SMITH ALBEE (Maintenance Officer 281st
AHC 04/69 - 04/70)
Major (Ret) Craig S. Albee, 60, lost his long
battle with Parkinson's disease on Tuesday,
09/05/06, surrounded by family. Major Albee, a
retired helicopter pilot with the United States
Army has touched many lives all over this county
try that he loved so dearly. Craig was a decorated
veteran. He served in active duty for 9 years and
continued full-time in the Army National Guard for
another 21 years. He was a member of the 281st
AHC in Republic of Vietnam and later assigned to
the 48th Aviation Company, Katterbach Army
Airfield in Ansbach, Germany, 1970-1973 where he
was recognized by the Department of The Army as
an innovator for current Army Helicopter
Maintenance Doctrine. Major Albee later became
the facility commander of the Reno-Stead Army
Aviation Support Facility, Nevada Army National
Guard for several years before transferring to
Alaska to finish his service to our country. He
was honorably discharged from the Alaska Army
National Guard in 1997 as Maintenance Test Pilot
Evaluator and UH60 Standardization Instructor
Pilot. Upon leaving the military he flew Lear jets
for Kalitta Air and Raytheon Travel Air, and then
finished his working career selling sporting goods
at Cabela's. On August 29, 2006, Major Albee took
his last flight aboard a CH-47D, Chinook
helicopter courtesy of the Reno/Stead Army
Aviation Support Facility. The family of Major
Albee would like to thank and applaud the flight
crew for the respect and dignity that they
extended Craig on this day that brought him such
joy. Craig's interests were hunting, fishing or
flying, along with any excuse to gather with
friends and family. He has touched the lives of
many and will be truly missed. Craig was preceded
in death by his father, George and his mother
Elizabeth. Craig is survived by his son, Geoffrey
of Sparks and his brother, Richard of Oxford MS. A
graveside service will be on September 11, 2006 at
10:00 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in
Fernley Nevada, followed by a private family
gathering. In lieu of flowers, donations can be
sent to The American Parkinson's Foundation, c/o
Susan Gulas, 1000 Locust St, Reno, NV 89502.
Arrangements are entrusted to Ross, Burke &
Knobel Mortuary in Reno. We invite you to send a
condolence message online at
www.rossburkeknobel.com. CRAIG S. ALBEE In
Loving Memory We were related by marriage, but
became family by heart. I referred to you as 'my
dad' not because it was an easier story to
explain, but because you were the dad I never had.
You gave me away at my wedding, you taught me
to balance a check book, you touched my
children's hearts and you instilled a meaning of
family, even when family was not the official tie.
Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone
special to be a dad. Thank you for sharing your
life with me.
Your daughter, Susan Zinser.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 04/13/2025
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