Otha “Al” Arnell Alston
Otha “Al” Arnell Alston, passed away on November 13, 2013 at the age of 79.
Al was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina in May of 1934 and was the son of the late Stuart and Hattie Mozella Alston. Al graduated from George Washington Carver High School in Kannapolis, North Carolina in June 1951. Al always sought adventure and challenges in his life so he volunteered and was inducted into the US. Army on June 1954 and served as a Staff Sergeant. His sharp and focused eye on details continued to serve him in the military. He received several awards for being a top quality rifleman and excelled as a soldier and served multiple combat tours in the Korean and Vietnam wars. After 20 years of service, he retired from the Army at Fort Lewis McChord, Washington on July 1974. He attended Green River Community College and received an Associates of Arts degree in Business Administration. He retired in Kent, Washington and started another career as a Maintenance Supervisor for Kent Public School Districts. During the winter nights of heavy ice and snow, his primary concerns were about keeping the children warm and school environments operating efficiently. Al was known for his dedication to his work, his strong work ethic, and his ability to relate to everyone he encountered.
He is survived by his sons, Otha Arnell Alston, Jr. and his son Michael Alston and his wife Lisa of Council Bluff, IA and their sons LaRoy and Jerrell Alston; Eugene Alston and his wife Nicole, their children Quincy, Lola, and Fiona of Burlingame, CA; His daughter Deborah Alston of Tacoma, WA and her children Delores and Nakeshia; his Great grandchildren, Shardannay Adams, Dominic Thomas; proceed in death was his brother Thomas Sandy Alston, his sister-in-law, Willie Mae Shoffner Alston of Gibsonville, NC; his sister, Thressa Alston of Kent, WA; and a host of family, friends, and extended relatives.
Services are scheduled at 11 am on Monday, December 9, at Greater Christ Temple Church in Tacoma with interment to follow at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.
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