DORIS BEKEN ALBRIGHT
Doris Beken Albright, age 96, passed away into eternal rest Sunday, June 13, 2021. She gave everything she could to her earthly life. She was born on October 17, 1924, as the only child of Paul Dietrich and Lydia Klockmann Beken. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Melvin H. Albright. She was the last surviving member of the Weimar High School class of 1941 and the last grandchild of J. F. Beken (her grandfather).
Doris moved to Houston to work in 1941 and lived with her Aunt Leona and Uncle Joe Billeck. She worked for several years for Wilson Supply & Engraving Company in Houston.
During World War ll she was in a Girls Trio that sang for the USO. They traveled with a band to sing to the Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston military bases.
Doris was married to Melvin Henry Albright on June 1, 1946, and lived in the Spring Branch area for 25 years. In 1965 she became one of the first women to drive a special education bus for the Spring Branch School District. She continued to drive for the next eight years.
Doris was always a young child very talented in music. She took piano lessons from Ms. Mary Grant and many others through the years. She served as a church organist at St. John’s Church in the Oak Forrest area of Houston from the 1950s until 1972 when she moved back to Weimar. Doris began playing the organ at Trinity Church on September 10, 1972, after her father’s death. Her mother, Lydia Beken, had been the church organist and wanted to retire. Doris began playing the first Sunday after the death of her father. She continued to play for the next 40 years. She also served as a substitute organist for many of the area churches. She played for numerous weddings and funerals, too many to count, and accompanied High School Students in their UIL events.
Doris was very active in her community, participating in the German Club, Colorado Water and Soil Conservation, New Bielau-Content Community Center Board as the rental agent for 39 years. She was also a member of the Colorado County Historical Commission from 1972 until the present. Doris served as the Commission Chair from 1992 to1995. Doris was a member of Trinity Church from birth until she married in 1946 and then rejoined with Melvin in 1972 when they moved back to Weimar to the Beken Home Place. She served numerous terms on the Church Council after the death of Melvin.
Once she returned to Weimar, she was very interested in history. Doris was the author of two books. From Then Until Now – A History of What is Now Known as the New Bielau Community published in 1986 and the Beken Family History. Both of these books are in the State Library as well as the Nesbitt Library.
She is survived by her two children, Mariette Al bright & Allen Bellamy, and her son, Roger Beken Albright & Helen. Two grandsons, Edward Paul & Lanette Bellamy, Scott Allen & Christi Bellamy. Two great-grandson’s Brett Edward Bellamy & Blake Andrew Bellamy.
The family would like to thank the Amedisys Hospice and the staff on the 600 wing of Regency in Schulenburg for her care during her final days.
Serving as pallbearers are Edward Bellamy, Scott Bellamy, Brett Bellamy, Blake Bellamy, Rory Koehn & Garrison Koehn.
Visitation will be on Friday, June 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Church in New Bielau. Funeral services will be Saturday, June 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Church. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to Trinity Church Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1985 FM 155 South, Weimar, Texas 78962.