Allen Earl Haberman

Batesville, MS — Allen "Al" Haberman, age 86, died peacefully at his home on March 13, 2018 with his family at his side.

Al was born in Marion, Ohio on July 8, 1931 to the late William G. and Minnie Ethel (Storer) Haberman.

He was a graduate of the Harding High School class of 1949.

Al was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, enlisting at the height of the Korean War. For much of his service, he was with the 96th Air Refueling Squadron as boom operator on a KC-97G "Stratotanker", an aerial refueling tanker variant of the C-97 "Stratofreighter." He spent his final two years as an instructor in the Air Refueling School.

In 1956, he married Mary Margaret Lee of La Rue, Ohio; they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in November 2017.

He learned the grocery business from his brother "Willie", working at Willie's grocery - La Rue Cash & Carry in La Rue, OH - as Butcher and Manager for 12 years. Al later owned and operated the New Bloomington Grocery in New Bloomington, Ohio.

Al was also employed — in Marion, Ohio — at Tecumseh Products, where he supervised two production lines, for 17 years until the plant closed. In 1984, he relocated to Batesville, MS for a position as Unit Manager at the Thermos Company; he retired from Thermos in 1994.

After retirement, Al returned to the grocery business as a merchandiser for Nabisco; he also worked at Save-A-Lot in the meat department as a stocker.

Al was a member of The American Legion (for 62 continuous years) and the First United Methodist Church of Batesville, MS.

He enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, bowling, puzzles, and card games. Most of all, Al enjoyed spending time in the local stores, shopping and keeping up on current grocery prices, where he would often see people he'd worked with at Thermos; he really enjoyed speaking with them.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Margaret; his son, Richard; his daughter Mary K. (Jeff) Dilley (and grandchildren Ethan and Kate); his daughter Julie R. Haberman (and grandchildren Ashley, Tevin, Austin, Amber, and Giovanni); and his sister, Shirley Marquis; as well as three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, William "Willie" Haberman, and his sisters: Kay Haberman-Gill, Cleo Bucher, Bernice Reynolds, Edna Riddle, and Jean LaRue.

In lieu of flowers, please submit donations to the First United Methodist Church of Batesville or to the children's or veteran's charity of your choice.

If you knew Al, please feel free to attend an informal gathering on March 23 from 3pm to 5pm at Wells Funeral Home, 340 MS Highway 35 North Batesville, Mississippi, or you may sign the guestbook and leave condolences at www.wellsfuneralhome.net/obituary/allen-haberman