Willard N. Albert

Willard Nathaniel Albert, age 91, of Knoxville, Tennessee, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, September 14, 2013. Mr. Albert retired as a well-respected attorney in the Fountain City area and practiced law in Knoxville for over 60 years. He lived a strong and active life, both as an attorney and counselor, and in the Fountain City community. He was a charter member of Beaver Brook Country Club and served on the board at St. Paul Methodist Church and on the building committee for the Dutch Valley Church of God. He also assisted in the organization and building of West Haven Ministries in Farragut. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Arline Goodman, and a daughter H. Jill (Albert) Tomlinson. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Brenda J. (Moore) Albert, a son Willard N. Albert II (Tuffy) and a daughter Betty Lou Watson, both of Auburndale, Florida, as well as 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Also surviving is former son-in-law, Col. Tom Tomlinson and wife, Pam. He was born in New York City on May 10,1922, the youngest child of Lewis and Beatrice Albert. Following high school, Mr. Albert attended the University of Miami on a football scholarship. He later transferred to Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, where he was awarded a Bachelor's of Art degree and a scholarship to Duke Law School. One year later, he volunteered into the Army Air Force as an Air Cadet and was later discharged in May 1943. Following his military service, Mr. Albert worked for the Kellex during the Manhattan Project years in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Now, having served his country in two different capacities, Mr. Albert attended the University of Tennessee Law School where he was awarded a Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1945 as a part of the first graduating class using the G.l. Bill and was admitted to the practice of law. After spending the first part of his law career practicing alongside such attorneys as Charles Davis and Ray Jenkins, Mr. Albert moved to the Fountain City area as a solo practitioner. In 1959 he built his office on North Broadway Street where he continued to practice up until his retirement. During that time, Mr. Albert assisted and counseled thousands of clients and practiced for such a great length of time, he often counseled several generations of family members. As a lawyer, he always had a deep personal interest in his clients and often sought compromise to find an equitable solution to the difficult situations clients found themselves facing. Mr. Albert loved to practice probate law and assist in the adoption of children. From a young age Mr. Albert had a keen interest in sports. Over the years, Mr. Albert coached numerous youth baseball and football teams, wrote sports articles for the Knoxville Journal, and spent time with the Knoxville Boys and Girls Club that he helped establish. Few things made Mr. Albert happier than teaching a child how to swim in his back yard pool. The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 15, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dutch Valley Church of God located at 1416 Breda Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37918, with the funeral service to follow at 8 p.m. with Rev. Don Logan, Rev. F. Jimmy Moore, Rev. Tom Frye, and Rev. Jim Merriman officiating. Family and friends will meet at 12:15 p.m. Monday, September 16, 2013, at Mynatt Funeral Home in Fountain City to proceed to East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery for a the 1:30 p.m. interment service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dutch Valley Church of God to support the church's mission work. Arrangements by Mynatt Funeral Home Fountain City.