Albert J. Tyson

Albert J. Tyson, 86, of Simpson, formerly of Waymart, passed away peacefully on Monday afternoon, February 17, 2025 at Abington Manor in Clarks Summit after an illness. His beloved wife, the former Donna Carney survives him. 

Born October 4, 1938 in Carbondale, he was the son of the late James and Eltha Hartley Tyson. 

Al's childhood was not an easy one; his parents died nine months apart when Al was only thirteen years old. In the midst of his grief, he was blessed to have the care of his relatives Irwyn ("Red") and Alberta Correll, who raised him through adulthood. Al was a 1956 graduate of Waymart High School.

Al enlisted in the United States Navy in November of 1956, and served his country in that capacity for twenty years, until July of 1976, followed by ten years of non-active duty. His Navy career was quite colorful, and he was proud of it for the rest of his life. As a Radio Technician First Class, he served on the USS San Marcos, the USS Greenwich Bay, the USS Duxbury Bay, the USS Valcour, the USS Northampton, the USS Purdy, and the USS John King. As a radioman, his duties included sending and receiving regular and encrypted messages, working with teletype machines, having a high security clearance , and climbing tall and swaying radio masts to clean and service the antennas. During his off-duty hours, he became a "ham" radio operator as part of an amateur radio club. While on the Greenwich Bay, he devised an ingenious communications system that provided for many of his shipmates to speak with family members back home, which was a tremendous morale-booster. While on the Northampton, which was the Naval-equivalent of Air Force One, he played pool with the daughters of President Lyndon Johnson, and he also accompanied Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and King Hussein of Jordan on fishing expeditions. Al led a Boy Scout troop in Morocco, and visited over fifty countries around the world. While visiting the Holy Land, Al had a profound and life-changing experience , walking on the same path that Jesus took to the cross of Calvary. On Al's final ship, the USS John King, he met Dan Brock, who became his best friend, and who, along with his friend Jerry, would provide him with hours and days of encouragement and comfort near the end of his earthly life. But the USS John King also took them to Vietnam, where Al was exposed to Agent Orange, which resulted in terrible medical consequences in his later years. 

Al returned to Waymart after the Navy, having married his high school sweetheart Donna Carney in 1972. Together, they built a beautiful marriage and life together, raising their five children. Al was a lifetime member of the Boy Scouts, working closely with the Cub Scout program in Waymart, Boy Scouts in Warminster, PA, and Scoutmaster in Gouldsboro, PA. He also mentored and assisted numerous Eagle Scouts with their projects.

Al's next career was at the Tobyhanna Army Depot, where he worked in several different departments, devoting many more years of his life to government service prior to retiring in 1999.

He also enjoyed serving as a Salvation Army Volunteer for many years, and was grateful to be a part of several of their important programs. He spent his seventieth birthday on a trip to Galveston, Texas, after that area was ravaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008. During this trip he amazed the other volunteers there with his abilities of cooking and serving food to the hurricane victims. Back home, he coordinated several of the most successful red-kettle bell-ringing campaigns that the Wayne County area had ever experienced. And he was instrumental in expanding the influence of the EDS program (Emergency Disaster Service) for the local Salvation Army. 

Al was also a life member of the Waymart American Legion Post 889, and was proud to bring recognition to Waymart -area veterans and emergency service members by coordinating the procurement and hanging of banners throughout the borough on September 8, 2020. 

But above all else, Al will be remembered as a loving and devoted Christian husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

In addition to his wife Donna, Al is also survived by his five children : Veronica Noble of Honesdale, Penny Navarro and her husband George of Scott Township, Frederick Tyson of Blakely, Nancy Nelle of Martindale, TX, and Michaeljohn Tyson and his fiance Kiersten of Stroudsburg; a sister, Betty Schoonmaker of Indiana; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Al was also preceded in death by a grandson, Zachary Tyson; daughter-in-law, Dora Tyson; a twin sister, Alberta who died in infancy; a brother Joseph who died in infancy; and brothers and sisters, Dorothy Bridges, Erma Rosenblatt, Josephine Strum, Audrey Sedivi, Warren Tyson.

The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM in the Chapel at Ladore Lodge, 398 South Street, Waymart, PA with Al's niece, Betty Ellen Barrett and her husband Derrick officiating.

The family will receive friends for a time of visitation on Saturday May 10th from 9:30-10:30 AM in the Chapel at Ladore Lodge.

Interment with military honors will be in Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Al's memory to the organization of the donator's choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Howell Family Funeral Home, Inc., Edward R. Howell, Funeral Director, 269 Belmont Street, Waymart, PA 18472. www.HowellFamilyFuneralHome.com