John Alblinger, Sr.

On Thursday, 29 September 2022, John Fordham Alblinger, Sr., a beloved husband and father, passed away at Silvertree Retirement Home due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was seventy-nine years old and a resident of New Braunfels. He was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing.

Born on 11 August 1943, to Marie Francis Watkins and Francis Robert Alblinger in San Antonio, Texas, John graduated from Breckenridge High School. After high school, he met B. Kathleen Neff, who later became his wife. They were together fifty-six years.

John was a jack-of-all-trades, having worked for HEB, 14 years at Firestone, for an insurance company, for multiple other auto repair garages and taught auto mechanics to military members. His last and favorite job was as a machinist for the Southern Pacific and later Union Pacific railroads, which he did for thirty years.

John was active in his church, loved to bird and deer hunt, work outside in the yard and rebuild vehicles. He volunteered for decades with the Special Olympics, taught disabled people how to square dance; inspiring others to volunteer service as well.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his son Jay, his daughter, Eileen Kinney and her sons, Trey and Kellin, and his nephew, Michael J. Alblinger and his sons, Michael II and Zachary. There will be a rosary in his honor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Selma on Tuesday, 11 October 2022, at 10:30 AM, followed by a celebratory mass at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow in the hall.