Albert Ray Scasta

Albert Ray Scasta, age 96, of Wheelock, Texas passed away to the presence of his Lord and Savior on February 20, 2024.

Albert was born on a farm in Wheelock on October 30, 1927 to Albert Scasta and Emma Milberger Scasta. His parents were sharecroppers in the area for 14 years. In 1938, they purchased the home place of Albert’s parents and this was their permanent residence up to the time of their deaths.

In 1934, Albert began school at the Kings Highway School in northern Brazos County. He continued there until his parents moved to their newly purchased home. During this time, there was no bus service to the school and he walked the two miles to and from school while others walker farther or less.

When they moved in 1938, he continued his education at the Wheelock school and enjoyed the luxury of riding a bus. The Wheelock school only had seven grades and in 1940 he started high school in Franklin, graduating in 1944.

He enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin. This was during wartime and the school was on an accelerated schedule. After one and a half years, in 1946, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Lewis, Washington. While at Fort Lewis, he met his future wife, Helen Hennessy, and they began dating. He was released from the Army in 1947, in time to reenroll at the University of Texas.

While in the Army, he and Helen became engaged and set a wedding time during the Christmas holidays of 1947. They were married at the First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma by the Rev. Renwich McCullough. They returned to Austin to live while Albert finished his education at the University. They remained married for 68 years.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in August 1949. His first job after this period was a teacher, teaching commercial subjects at the Dripping Springs, Texas high school and driving a bus route of 40 miles twice per school day. During this time, their first son, David, was born.

During a summer vacation they took a trip to visit Helen’s family in Tacoma. While there Albert obtained employment with the Tacoma plant of Asarco, Inc. as an employment clerk. During this period, their second child, Daniel, was born. After 5 years in the Tacoma plant, he was transferred to the El Paso plant where he worked as a safety inspector and the personnel and safety driver. He worked at this plant for 31 years until retirement in 1986. After retirement, they moved to their present address in Wheelock where Albert spent his time ranching and gardening.

During his time in El Paso and Wheelock, he had been active in the First Baptist Churches.

Albert was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Helen; his son, Daniel; his parents, Albert Scasta and Emma Milberger Scasta; brother, Lawrence; and sister, Jane Swan.

He is survived by his son, David of Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wheelock Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 14, Wheelock, Texas 77882