Allen S. "Al" Harbin, 80
Al Harbin, 80, passed away June 26, 2014, surrounded by his loving family.
Al was born in Danburg, Ga., on May 14,1934, to Wayman Harbin and Nora Winn Harbin. He grew up in Anderson, S.C., where he met and married his childhood sweetheart, Sybil E. Wicker. This past April 10th, Al and Sybil celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.
Al joined the Navy during the Korean War, and was proud to be a Navy Corpsman. He had many successful occupations over the years. Going into Civil Service took him, his wife and four daughters (Sherry, Sheila, April and Joyce) to El Paso, Texas, where he worked on the boarder of El Paso and Juarez, Mexico. Then Al moved his family to Los Angeles, Calif., to work as a Customs Officer at the L.A Airport. He was the first to board and inspect the Queen Mary when it docked for the last time in Long Beach, Calif.
After retiring, Al and family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where he was owner and operator of the Carlin Bay Resort from 1976 into the 1990s. He enjoyed everything Coeur d’Alene had to offer - the quiet peaceful environment, the wildlife, and especially the variety of birds. He and Sybil later settled in Post Falls, Idaho.
Al's life was quite an adventure! He four wheeled in the desserts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona with his wife and girls in tow. He met several actors as a customs officer. Al was made Worshipful Master of The Belmont Shore Masonic Lodge in 1976. He loved playing music at the Carlin Bay Resort, both entertaining and serving thousands of patrons from all over the country who came to play on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, Wayman and Nora; five brothers: Louis, William, Harold, Johnny, and Henry; and sons-in-law: Patrick Buckley and Robert Neff.
He leaves behind his wife, Sybil; daughters: Sherry D. Neff, Sheila K. Buckley, April D. Harbin, and Joyce Y. Harbin; seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; sisters: Lucille Bolt, JoAnna Dixon, and Mary Hilton; and countless nieces and nephews in South Carolina.
Al was loved and respected by all who knew him. We will miss him dearly. At Al’s request, there will be no funeral.