Joseph Hilton “Joe” Albee Sr. of Leominster, Massachusetts died on Sept. 14, 2021. 

Joe was born in Wiscasset, Maine on Feb. 11, 1933, the son of Hilton and Mary Anne (Doherty) Albee. Joe graduated from Boothbay Harbor High School with the Class of ’50. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural engineering in 1954 from the University of Maine. After college, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and served in Okinawa, Tokyo and Thailand as a topographic surveyor.

After his Army duty, Joe moved to Connecticut to work as a test engineer at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. While in Connecticut, Joe met and married Betty Ann Olson of Rockport, Massachusetts in May of 1959. Their honeymoon trip ended in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Joe had accepted a job with General Electric. That led to a 34-year GE career with a variety of assignments as test equipment design engineer, manufacturing engineer for batteries, customer service engineer for aircraft engine starters and cockpit instrumentation, and quality control engineer on steam turbine sets for nuclear submarines (but nothing agricultural). Along the way, he added registration as a professional engineer in Ohio, a master’s degree in engineering management from Northeastern University, and certification as a quality engineer from ASQC.

Joe retired at the age 60 in 1993. He and Betty enjoyed traveling until cancer took her from him in 2003. Joe enjoyed making toy furniture for his grandchildren in his workshop. He became an avid reader and country music fan.

Joe is survived by his sister, Mary Anne Manchester of Diamondhead, Mississippi; his son Joseph Jr. of California, Maryland; his daughters and sons-in-law Mary and Brian Mullahy of Leominster, Massachusetts; Patti and Edward Bibber of Kennebunk, Maine; and Kathy and Mark Campbell of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Also survived by grandchildren Christine Mullahy and husband Paul Foote of Moultonborough, New Hampshire; Rebecca and Benjamin Cauley of Lancaster, Massachusetts; Dakota, Ashley and Emily Campbell and great-granddaughters Madelyn and Abigail Cauley.            

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Camp Sunshine, 35 Acadia Road, Casco, ME  04015 Camp Sunshine Memorial Donations, or to The Barton Diabetes Center, 30 Ennis Road, P.O. Box 356, Oxford, MA 01537 Barton Center Memorial Donations.

Private graveside services will be held at the family’s convenience.