Slain Alburtis Women Laid To Rest

On a beautiful spring-like morning, Althea Walbert and her daughter, Jeannette, were laid to rest in Longswamp Union Cemetery near Mertztown. But peace eludes their family and community as the killer and the motive remain a mystery.

The women are home now and their suffering is over, said the Rev. Katherine E. Brearley, who conducted the funeral service Thursday in the Ludwick Funeral Home in Kutztown.

The pastor of Longswamp UCC used the words of poet John Payne’s famous  “Home, Sweet Home,” to make her point. She also asked about 40 members of the women's family and friends to put away their images of horror and pain.

“Althea and Jeannette now rest in the arms of a loving God…and whoever did this will meet God’s justice at the appointed time,” Brearley said.

The two women were found slain shortly after 9 a.m. March 11 in their home at 122 Cobblestone Court in Alburtis. Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim ruled both women’s deaths homicides, but officials are tight-lipped about the cause of death. Alburtis Police Chief Robert Palmer believes the deaths are the first homicides ever in the borough, and the community on the whole remains concerned and wary even though police have said they believe the killings to be an isolated incident.

Though she never met either of the women, Brearley retold stories that had been described to her about the day Althea and her late husband, Woodrow, were married, about Jeannette’s confirmation and about the several family members for whom Althea cared over the years in addition to Jeannette who had Down syndrome.

“Althea’s community accepted her for who she was: a very loving character who took care of her family.”

The small cortege processed to the cemetery after the service, and the women were laid to rest.

Paul Mack, a neighbor and friend of the Walberts for many years, watched the scene at the cemetery from his car.

He remembered buying a pig from Woodrow Walbert during the 1950s. But those were happier days.

“I chased Hitler around Europe for two and a half years during World War II to preserve freedom.

“But this ... there’s a killer on the loose out there,” Mack said shaking his head, “This is just a hell of a thing.”