Albert Clifford Sprankle

Mr. Albert Clifford Sprankle, 98, formerly of Frederick, died on Thursday, December 15, 2011 in Texas. Born at home on August 15, 1913 in Emmitsburg, MD, to the late Martha Smith Sprankle and George Sprankle, Albert Clifford Sprankle was the youngest of eight children, all of whom preceded him in death. His father died when Albert was 2 years old, and the family moved to Frederick, Md. He sold newspapers on the Square corner when he was eight years old, and worked at a Canning Factory when he was just 11. He held various jobs during his youth while attending St. John's elementary school. He was a life-long member of St. John's Catholic Church. He met the love of his life, Erma Estelle Ramsburg, at a dance at the little red schoolhouse on Gashouse pike. They were married April 30, 1932. Albert worked at the Ox Fiber Brush Company on East Church Street, and the couple lived in an apartment over the Southern Restaurant on North Market Street. During WWII, Albert was a guard at the Shipyard in Baltimore. Albert and Erma owned Sprankle's North End Grocery Store on North Market Street near the Fountain for 17 years. After that they were Sprankle Realty, until they retired. The couple was married for 69 years until Erma died in June 1999. They had 7 children; Patricia A Fulkoski, Thomas (Jack) Sprankle, Albert "Laddie" C. Sprankle, Jr (deceased), Michael Joseph Sprankle, Peter Andrew Sprankle, Margaret Mary Kluth, and Jeffery Christopher Sprankle. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. In recent years Albert lived in Fort Worth, Texas with his son Jack and daughter-in-law Katherine, and traveled the country visiting family. Albert donated over 100 gallons of blood to the Red Cross, was a census taker, and volunteered at St John's Cemetery. He was dedicated to family, and offered this sage advice: "Be a good student, get a good education, go to college, treat other people fairly, do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it, and do it to the best of your ability, and do always remember that God loves you." The family will receive friends from from 7 to 9pm on Monday, December 19th, at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday, December 20th, from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 118 E. Second St., Frederick. Interment will be in St. John's Cemetery, Frederick. Online condolences may be shared with the family at keeneybasford.com In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Frederick County, P.O. Box 1799, Frederick, MD 21702-1799.