Memorial service for Al Ludington will be held May 20 at Seamanville Cemetery

MONROE — The family of Alan Frederick Ludington will hold a graveside service for the longtime resident of Monroe at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, at Seamanville Cemetery on Spring Street in Monroe.
Al passed away on Jan. 17, 2017, in Huntersville, North Carolina.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1928, Al was a World War II veteran. He left high school to join the U.S. Navy where he served aboard the USS Capps and USS Terry, both naval destroyers.
After the war, he attended the University of Denver and received a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications.
After graduating in 1951, Al moved to New York City where he began his career in broadcasting with the ABC Television Network.
In 1954, he married his wife, Patricia Mary Phillips, whom he met while in college. Patricia also worked in the television industry in New York as an assistant producer with the Howdy Doodie show on the NBC Television Network.
After briefly residing in Yonkers and West Nyack, Al and Pat settled their family in Orange County, first in Central Valley, then in Monroe.
While working at ABC as a news cameraman and editor in the early 60s, Al would moonlight as a cartoonist at Hal Seeger Productions, working on the "Milton the Monster" and "Batfink" cartoons.
He also worked with Bob Clampett and producers of the "Beanie and Cecil" show.
Al's career at ABC continued to grow and he was promoted to the prime time slot, producing the ABC Sunday Night Movie, then the network's marquee weekly entertainment program.
Known for combining his talent in music, writing and cinematography, Al was recognized by TV Guide as one of the industry's top producers.
He retired from ABC Entertainment in 1979 as the director of Post Productions, East Coast.
Al had a true passion for serving his community. He began as a volunteer firefighter with the Central Valley Fire Department.
After moving to Monroe, he joined the Harriman Engine Company where, among other posts, he served as chief and took great pleasure in training the members on the latest firefighting techniques.
Later, he became an Orange County Fire Coordinator. He is credited with helping to form the county's Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Team and was involved in the Arson Investigation Team.
Al was a Boy Scout Leader in Monroe's Troop 340 and created the Boy Scout of America's Explorer Post 340, an emergency service post where high school boys and girls were trained in first aid, search and rescue, forest firefighting and disaster relief.
After his wife Patricia passed away in 1991, Al would spend much of his time traveling the country with his pets, visiting his children and grandchildren before residing with his son Jim and his family in a suburb of Charlotte, N.C.
Al was the only son of Frederick Cecil Ludington and Esther Beatrice (Thorsen) Ludington. He is predeceased by his loving wife, Patricia (Phillips) Ludington, who was also born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He is survived by two daughters, Judith Anne Ludington Heusner, M.D., and her husband, John Edmund Heusner, M.D. of Spokane, Washington, and Carolynn Ludington and her husband, Bill Zint of Phoenix, Arizona, and two sons, Thomas Ludington and his wife Noreen of Monroe and James Ludington and his wife Colleen of Cornelius, N.C.
Al loved his ten grandchildren, including: James Alan Heusner and his wife Jackie of Cincinnati, Ohio, John Thomas Heusner of Spokane, Washington, Jennifer Heusner of Carlsbad, California, Declan, Delia and Aidan Ludington of Monroe, Lauren Price-Evans and her husband Iwan of London, England, Sarah Wilson of Scottsdale, Arizonia, and Jacob and Samuel Ludington of Cornelius, N.C.
Though his skin may have seemed by some to have been thickened by the Navy salt, Al had a heart of gold. He loved his family, his pets and his country and was a champion for the underdog.
He will be greatly missed for his insights, his numerous talent, and his superb Tex-Mex brisket and chili. We know that he is in a better place, playing his trumpet as he is finally reunited for eternity with Pat, the love of his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Harriman Engine Company, PO Box 26, Harriman, NY 10926.