She was the 13th child born to Hallie Floyd Smith and Ethel Lee (Holt) Smith. She was a sharecropper’s daughter, which is where she got her love for flowers and the countryside. It was in her blood. She enjoyed working in her flowerbeds, irises being her favorite and fishing. She loved the country, which is where she and Richard moved to after retirement.
Marrying her one true love, Richard Robert Albers on January 9, 1954. They honeymooned in Galveston, Texas on the Gulf of Mexico and even saw the great Elvis Presley preform before he became famous. Retha was a good and faithful wife of 64 years.
She was a switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell then on to motherhood and a homemaker. She later started handling switchboards for an answering service. Her last job before retirement was at Maple Office Supply.
Retha was a woman who was outspoken and not afraid to speak her mind. She was fondly remembered saying “You might as well go ahead and get glad in the same pants you got mad in!” She was a faithful Southern Baptist. She was always willing to help others and was a very loving, caring mother who was always concerned with her children and grandchildren.
In her spare time if you didn’t find her in her garden then she was off on a cruise. She loved to listen to Tom Jones and her favorite movie was Gone with the Wind. She was an avid reader and crossword puzzle guru.
She is survived by her husband and best friend, Richard Robert Albers. Her daughter, Melody Jean Ostman and son, Ronald Craig Albers. Her pride and joys; grandson, Matthew Gregory Ostman; granddaughter, Nicole Renee Martin and granddaughter, Lesley Erin Ostman. Two cherished great grandchildren, Baily Renee Martin and River Marie Ostman. She also leaves behind to cherish her memory many nieces, nephews and cousins across the great state of Texas.
Retha was the last surviving sibling of her departed parents, Hallie Floyd Smith and Ethel Lee (Holt) Smith. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra Renee Martin and her beloved furbaby, Benji.
