Albert Joplin

Albert E. Joplin
Albert was born in 1936 at Colorado General Hospital to James and Christine Joplin. He was the youngest child; with older sisters Charlotte, Shirley, and Cynthia.

The family lived on a thirty-acre farm, where they raised corn and alfalfa. Growing up he was responsible for the farm animals, which consisted of a cow, pigs, ducks and geese. During the depression era they had hundreds of chickens and his father sold eggs. Albert was a great help to his father in all of his projects. As his parents grew older he put his own wishes and opportunities aside to take care of his parents. He always respected his parents, faithfully taking care of them and visiting them every week until they passed.

He started school at Cunningham Elementary, a one-room schoolhouse, Maple Grove School then Aurora High School where he graduated in 1954. His favorite subjects were Shop and Auto Mechanics. Once when asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, he stated that he wanted to be a carpenter and a cabinet-maker.

Growing up he helped his father build houses; digging wells, septic systems and foundations. His least favorite job was as a "chicken-plucker" which gave him a strong distaste for anything associated with poultry for the rest of his life.

After graduation he worked in the oil fields. It was bitterly cold in winter and he soon realized that the good money wasn't worth it. He came back to Denver and started working at National Cash Register as a truck driver. The company saw his potential and proposed that he could work his way up. Wisely, Albert started taking classes at DeVry Technical Institute, soon becoming an apprentice at NCR, which was interrupted in 1958 when the Army drafted him.

Albert served in the Army from 1958-1961. He was honorably discharged as an E-5 Sergeant, Specialist 5, he returned to Denver, and went back to work for NCR. He was sent to Casper, WY then came back to Denver. Over his 37-year career with NCR he went to Dayton, Ohio many times to attend advanced training there with additional schooling in Denver where NCR had a computer school. Towards the end of his career he spent 11 years in management. His goal was to retire at 55 years old so that he could pursue other interests and hobbies. He didn't retire until he was 56 ½. When he retired he refused to sit and take it easy. He was elected to the South Gate Water and Sanitation District, serving on the water board for ten years.

As a boy Albert was always experimenting. He put a firecracker in a tin can launcher he had designed. It did not go off, so he bent down to pick it up and it blew up in his face. It cut his lip, scared his eyeball, sliced his nose, and required an emergency trip to the hospital.

Albert's first car at the young age of 13 was a 1931 Chevy. It required a lot of work to keep it running, a challenge he relished. He drove it on frozen Windsor Lake at Fairmont Cemetery during the winter. He had many cars that were a challenge to keep running.

Interestingly, he dated Deanna for six months before she knew about his 1948 Stinson airplane explaining that he didn't want her to think he was rich and didn't want her to date him for his money; Deanna was relieved to finally know why she never saw him on Saturdays. Later he had Deanna take flying lessons, so she could be his copilot. In their 45-year marriage she truly was his copilot in every way. Many adventures occurred in the plane. Air shows were attended, train rides were taken, and much car work was done.

Albert and Deanna were married on April 24th, 1965, at Calvary Temple. He promised Deanna at the time that she would always have what she needed, but not necessarily what she wanted. He has always kept this promise. He was so proud of her beautiful and functional quilting, when he was cold his preferred quilt was always one of Deanna's. He said many times that Deanna was the best thing that ever happened to him and Deanna felt the same way about him.

Albert loved to travel, he loved photography, he loved history, and most of all he loved to chase steam engine trains to photograph them.

He was a brilliant individual, a modern-day Edison. Long before the technology was available to support it he drew up plans that foretold the electric toothbrush and cruise control for cars. When Sharon was a young teen, she asked her dad if we could ever get anything new, because he was able to fix everything. He was able to periodically repair the 20-year-old microwave, one time he fixed it with a coat hanger. Its final demise occurred when Deanna went out in a snowstorm to buy a new microwave before he could fix it again!

One-on-one Albert was a wonderful teacher. Whenever they purchased a new car Sharon and Deanna were not allowed to drive the car until they had read the owner's manual, passed his "verbal test" on the car, and could change the tire and oil for that car. His son-in-law loved working with him, because Albert would let him discover how to do things and quietly give leading advice without correction. Everyone learned from him and every discussion became a teaching moment. Albert did not feel comfortable in front of a crowd and did not consider himself a public speaker. Albert was always a private person and never wanted to be put on a pedestal.

When asked a question that he did not want to answer or did not know the answer to, his statement was always, "cannot make statement at this time;" accompanied by a mischievous grin. He had a very dry sense of humor, and was known for his wit. Evening dinners often dragged on for hours as the family laughed and joked at the table.

He was told by several people who knew him well "he was a man of grace, humility, and perseverance…a very honorable person." This is a great summary of his character. All who knew Albert commented on his humility, character, and kindness. He always had time to sit and talk; he was truly interested in people, and was a very good listener.