Albert Winslow Brisbin

Albert Winslow Brisbin, age 89, passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021. He was born December 26, 1931, in Galveston, Texas, to Roberta Winslow and Albert Ward Brisbin. During WWII, he attended school in Menard, TX, and graduated from Jefferson High School in San Antonio in June 1948. From there he attended what was then called Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, TX, for a year before transferring to the University of Texas, Austin. He had a mind for numbers and a can-do spirit that ultimately led to him graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in January 1954. On the same day that he graduated from UT, he received his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy but more importantly, he married Lula Margaret McMillen. They honeymooned on the way to his first assignment in San Francisco, California, where he trained to be a Damage Control Officer. At the end of his training, he was flown to meet his ship and Margaret returned to Texas. In 1955, as his ship was heading for Hawaii and home, his son, John Winslow, was born in Texas. Overall, he served 2 years in the Pacific aboard the oil tanker, USS Manatee during the Korean conflict. After completing his service honorably, he separated from the Navy in January 1956 as a LTJG.

After his service, he was employed by the General Electric Company in Schenectady, New York, in the Large Motors and Generators Department from March 1956 to 1960. About this time, he became interested in the Dale Carnegie Courses, a training course that creates engaging leaders, powerful presenters, confident sales and service professionals, and empowered organizations. His kind heart, smart wit and leadership skills made him the perfect choice for this occupation.

He became a full-time presenter, and he moved the family to Putnam County, NY, and worked in White Plains, NY, for the next 3 years. In 1964 he continued the Dale Carnegie Courses in Houston – selling, teaching and making sales presentations. In September 1967 his daughter, Teri Charissa, joined the family. His efforts were recognized, and he was given his own area to manage in San Antonio and his family of four moved again. They purchased a house on Bitters Road in 1968, a place that would be their home for almost 40 years.

Everyone’s spiritual journey is different, and this was the case with Win as well. He was confirmed in the Episcopal Church as a young boy and was baptized in the Christian Church when he was 29. He was near 40 when he asked Jesus to be his Lord and turned his life fully over to God. He was impressed to go into the Christian Book Business. At the Christian Book Sellers Convention, he was encouraged to put paperback books in racks in drug stores, grocery stores etc. He had a lot of help in this business from the young men living in his home in a Christian community. They distributed Christian paperback books and Bibles from Waco to Corpus Christi and many towns along the way. His largest customer was the H-E-B stores where he placed Christian Books for 5 years before he was bought out by a Christian publisher.

He was always willing to help, so when many young families in the church were struggling to make ends meet, so they formed a food co-op. At the time, $5 would purchase a full grocery sack, so Win and a few others would go to the market, load up fresh vegetables, cheese, chicken, and eggs to be distributed. His desire to help others was also exercised at the closing of the Vietnam War. When the Vietnam War ended in 1975, many of the Vietnamese were airlifted to the United States. Win became the refugee resettlement officer for the Episcopal Church in the San Antonio Diocese. Through his efforts many of the Vietnamese families found homes and jobs through sponsorship of churches in the area and we are still in contact with them to this day.

In 1977, he was drawn back to his Electrical Engineering background. He purchased a small company that rebuilt starters and alternators for cars and large equipment and founded Win Brisbin Rebuilders. He soon realized the need for a computer to keep track of parts, so he took a course in programming to make that possible. Unfortunately, the business facility caught fire in 1982. As he had done for countless others, his friends came to help by rummaging through the rubble to pick up parts, clean them and save what could be used. The business continued and Win operated that company for more than 25 years until he retired. Close family friends purchased and kept the business running today.

Having been a member of several denominational churches, when the interdenominational churches came on the scene, that was the natural place for his family. He and Margaret were trained by Restoring the Foundations ministry as Christian Counselors in 1991 and worked in their own church before being asked to go to Scotland to train church pastors. They also counseled and trained pastors in Poland, Kenya and in the Netherlands. Their ministry was called His Healing Touch Inc. For the past 10 years he has been a member of Community Bible Church where he was active in the Care and Support department, which is a team that provides counseling. He and Margaret have done marriage mentoring and counseling couples. At the end of 2006, Win and Margaret moved out of the busy city to the quiet suburb of Spring Branch, TX.

Living a very busy life, there has always been a need for rest and relaxation. He found this at the family cabin in the mountains of Eagle Nest, New Mexico. There, he often retreated with his family during the summer months. His favorite activities included taking long hikes, naps, reading and fishing. This is also where he taught his only granddaughter, Katrina Margaret (born on his birthday, in 1990), to fish, and eventually drive. He also taught her the essentials including the importance of hard work, living with empathy, and trusting your gut. He loved being her Grandpa, and he was great at it.

In recent years, he and Margaret were members of the Dancing Duets (a round dance club), Style Masters (a square dance club) and the Southwest Area Camping Squares. For continued recreation, they enjoyed traveling, camping and cruising – especially in Europe.

Throughout his life, he was a pillar for not only his family, but the community as a whole. He made a warm, lasting impression on all he met and he will forever be in our hearts.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

10:15 AM

FT. SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

MEMORIAL SERVICE

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

12:30 PM

PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH

For those who were unable to attend, a recording of the service may be viewed below: