Alden Allbaugh

Alden Allbaugh

Obituary

NEWTON — Alden Allbaugh, Newton High School teacher and counselor from 1946 to 1981 and long-time “Voice of the Railers,” died on Tuesday (May 29, 2012) at Asbury Park in Newton at the age of 95.

Alden joined the Newton High faculty in 1946, teaching social studies, and later English, journalism and dramatics. In the mid-1950s, after earning a master’s degree in guidance and counseling at K.U., Alden became one of Kansas’ first high school guidance counselors, helping to establish the profession as part of public school services. He returned to full-time teaching in the last five years of his career.

Outside of school, Alden enjoyed working NHS sports events, serving as scorekeeper for the basketball team, and memorably as a colorful public address announcer for the wrestling program and the high school band at football games. He enjoyed directing the Newton Recreation Commission’s summer baseball and softball leagues in company with his friend W.M. Okerberg, the long-time NRC director. His encyclopedic knowledge of baseball, its rules, tactics and history, came from a life-long passion for the game, only slightly stronger than his love of basketball (especially Kansas basketball) and several other sports.

Alden’s students remember his enthusiasm for literature, current events and story-telling. He greatly appreciated his students as individuals, and he enjoyed the friendship of former students who were bonded by memories of creating long-ago Newton High stage productions, newspapers and yearbooks together, and by mutual enjoyment of creating community together in Newton.

Alden was a member of Trinity Heights United Methodist Church (and formerly of Salem United Methodist Church, where he taught adult Sunday School for more than 25 years and served on the Administrative Council), and of the American Legion. Community groups called on him to serve as toastmaster for events and to write articles promoting their activities, including fund-raising efforts for the Newton schools, library and historical society. He and his wife Ruby also served in VITA, the volunteer income tax service of the IRS, for more than 10 years during their retirement.  He was a long-time member of the Kansas Horseshoe Pitcher’s Association, enjoying competitive horseshoe pitching and the many friendships he formed with pitchers and their families. He competed in numerous national tournaments and was elected to the Kansas Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame.

Alden was born near Richland, 20 miles from Topeka, on Jan. 21, 1917, to Charles E. and Maude Deskins Allbaugh. As a boy, he worked on the family’s farm and shared his parents’ love of literature, sports, music and education. After graduating in 1934 from Overbrook High School, where he participated in football, basketball, track, music and theater, he attended Emporia State Teachers College from 1934 to 1936, then taught for three years in the two-room, eighth-grade school in Richland before returning to Emporia State, where he graduated in May 1941. At Emporia, he was active in student affairs and served as sports editor and managing editor of the college paper.   He met his future wife, Ruby Howell, in a Shakespeare class at Emporia State in the summer of 1940. They were married on Dec. 21, 1941, in Kansas City.

In fall 1941, Alden taught at Lebanon (KS) High School, then was called into the army and served for the duration of World War II until discharged as First Lieutenant in March of 1946.  As a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, he was recalled to service for 18 months during the Korean War, when he was deployed for nine months in Korea as a medical supply officer.

Alden is survived by a daughter, Karen Snyder and husband, Tom of Hancock, Mich.; a son, Thomas Allbaugh and wife, Kathy of Saline, Mich.; four grandchildren, Daniel Snyder of Somerville, Mass., Julia Snyder of Edinburgh, Scotland, Lucy Allbaugh of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Grace Allbaugh of Saline, Mich.; one sister, Julia Brooks of Lawrence; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Ruby; a sister, Martha Montfoort; and a brother, Charles Edgar Allbaugh.

Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton, where family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church in Newton. The Rev. Cheryl Jefferson Bell will officiate. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Newton High School Athletic Hall of Fame or the Good Samaritan Fund of Asbury Park, and may be sent to Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main St., Newton, KS 67114. 

Arrangements are by Petersen Funeral Home.