Albert Pelt

Colonel (Retired) Albert Earl Van Pelt Sr., 81, of Sherwood passed away on July 11, 2017. He was born July 19, 1935 in El Paso, Arkansas. Survivors include his wife of sixty-one years, Martha Ann Van Pelt; sister, Wanda (Dennis) Fulmer; three sons, Albert Van Pelt Jr., Kirk (Kelly) Van Pelt and Scott (Lisa) Van Pelt. Survivors also include eight grandchildren: Jackie Van Pelt, Clayton Goshien, Thomas Joseph "T.J." Van Pelt, Brianna Van Pelt, James Van Pelt (Callie), Alex (Kayley) Van Pelt, Katie Van Pelt, and Hannah Van Pelt; and two great grandchildren; Mackenzie Peters, and Ashton Van Pelt. He was preceded in death by one son, Steven Van Pelt, and his parents, Albert and Mauryne Van Pelt.
His thirty-eight-year military career began when he enlisted into the Arkansas Air National Guard in 1953 as an aircraft maintenance technician and later transferred to the Arkansas Army National Guard in 1960. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant from the Arkansas Military Academy in 1962 and became branch qualified as an infantry officer at Ft. Benning. He then transitioned into the Army Aviation branch where he completed his initial flight training at Ft. Rucker Alabama in 1963. As an Army National Guard Aviator, he served in multiple command and staff positions within the aviation community where he accumulated over 8,690 flight hours as a Master Aviator and culminated his career as the State Army Aviation Officer at Camp Robinson.
A military funeral with honors will be held at 10: 00 AM on Friday, July 21, 2017 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, 1501 West Maryland Avenue in North Little Rock. A celebration wake will be held from 12:00-4:00 PM on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Park on the River, 11903 Crystal Hill Road in Maumelle. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a contribution to be made to an Arkansas veterans support organization at ARVets.org.
Online guest register at www.SmithFamilyCares.com