Alberta Royal Stanley

Alberta Royal Stanley was born August 2, 1918 in Bangor, Michigan and she passed away on August 15, 2012. She was the daughter of Rex Raymond Royal and Ella Funk Royal. Shortly after her birth, her mother returned to their home in Shelby, Michigan where Alberta grew up. She attended the Shelby public schools and excelled in academics and sports. Alberta lettered four years in girl’s basketball and graduated co-valedictorian of her senior class in 1936. Following graduation, Alberta entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1940 and was a member of the Senior Society, a university honor society. Continuing her studies at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Alberta earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Alberta was living at home in Shelby, Michigan on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. When the U.S. Navy opened its ranks to women, she applied to the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) of the United States Navy. In January 1943, Alberta was ordered to train at midshipmen’s school at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts and later at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. On March 9, 1943, she was commissioned by the U.S. Navy an Ensign W-V and ordered to Washington D.C. to serve in communications and coding duties at the Navy Department. On August 1, 1947, Alberta was placed on extended duty and served in the Department on Naval Sea Transportation as a commissioned officer and an aide to Admiral William N. Callaghan. In addition, she served as the head of the Training Liaison Branch of the Naval Reserve Division of the Military Sea Transportation Service. She prepared training courses for that branch of the Naval Reserve. In 1948, Alberta received a special commendation for her service and in December 1950 retired with the rank, Lieutenant Commander. Alberta married Earl R. Stanley in 1945 at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. They lived in the Washington D.C. area from 1946 until 1999 when Earl retired from law practice and they moved to Brentwood, Tennessee. They have two daughters, Ann S. Leonard of Bethesda, Maryland and Margaret S. Massari of Brentwood, Tennessee. Alberta was a homemaker and was active in numerous historical and patriotic organizations including National Society of the Descendants of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge; The Daughters of the Society of the Cincinnati; The National Society of Colonial Dames of America; The National Society of Colonial Dames of the 17th Century; National Society of Daughters of American Colonists; National Society of Magna Charta Dames; National Society of Barons; The National Society of the Daughters of Colonial Wars; The Sovereign Colonial Society of Americans of Royal Descent; Society of the Descendents of the Founders of Ancient Windsor; Descendants of the Founders of Harford, Connecticut; Connecticut Genealogical Society; Ohio Genealogical Society, First Families of Ohio, National Society Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company; The Society of the Descendants of Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter; The National Huguenot Society; The National Society of the Descendants of Colonial Clergy; The Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America; The Cameo Society; Descendants of the Oceana County Michigan Pioneers and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Potomac Hundred Chapter, University of Michigan Emeritus Club, Order of the Eastern Star. Over her long life, Alberta remained intensely loyal to her country and its institutions and she had great pride in the records of her ancestors. In lieu of flowers, donate to Shelby Library, 189 Maple Street, Shelby, MI 49455. Arrangements by: Brentwood-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 9010 Church Street East, Brentwood, TN 37027. (615)-373-3040. www.brentwood-roesch-pattonfuneralhome.com