A Celebration of Life service for Albert “Al” Stingel Birks, 94 of Corinth, Ms, will be Monday, July 22, 2024 at 11:30 A M at Magnolia Funeral Home – East Chapel with interment to follow in Corinth National Cemetery with Military Honors. Military Pallbearer will be Albert Birks. Rev. Nelson Hight will officiate the service with Carl Burks delivering the eulogy. Visitation will be Monday, July 22, 2024 from 10:00 A M until service time at Magnolia Funeral Home – East. Mr. Birks passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2024 at Tishomingo Manor in Iuka, Ms. He was born May 9, 1930 in Bridgeport Connecticut to Marie Stingel and Albert Ellsworth Birks. His life changed in 1938 during The Great Depression, when his father passed away. To help support the family, Al began working and his mother cared for foster children (which she continued to do for over 25 years with 36 fostered children). Some became like brothers and sisters. Floyd Kershaw is the last surviving sibling. From an early age, Al had an interest in how things worked. Upon high school graduation, he decided to pursue a degree in Engineering. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York, participated in Glee Club and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. He remained a loyal supporter of RPI throughout his life. He was drafted into the navy in 1955 and used his education to work on jet engines. Upon leaving the service with an honorable discharge in 1957, he started his professional engineering vocation. This career would move the family throughout the US. This included Illinois, Colorado, Ohio, Washington State, Indiana, Mississippi and Maryland before retiring to Corinth, MS. Al met Joan Ayers while working for Sperry Corporation in Connecticut. They wed in 1959 and started a family having two sons. His interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields was passed on to his sons with Albert W. obtaining a degree in Ceramic engineering from OSU and Carl a degree in Microbiology from EWU. He excelled in non-destructive testing and the design of related analytical instrumentation. He was named on several patents for the development of instruments and methods used to examine material fatigue and integrity by ultrasound, x-ray and other testing methods. He was involved in this field for 58 years until his retirement at age 83. His work took him around the globe where he made many lifelong professional friendships and gained respect from industry professionals worldwide. His work included the development and use of testing methods for airplane wing metal fatigue, nuclear reactor piping welds and containment integrity, viability of aging bridge structures, the space shuttle booster rocket casings as well as many civil and military projects. Al was an author and contributing Fellow to both ASME and ASNT professional societies for over 5 decades. He was involved in creating mechanical engineering global codes, certifications and standards for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world, earning him an ASME Vanguard Pioneer Award for Non-Destructive Testing. Al had a life-long passionate interest in automobiles from an early age that would remain centric throughout his life. He loved problem solving, repairing, restoring and showing cars. He enjoyed being involved in classic car enthusiast clubs with his wife Joan. One of his favorite stories was about his family’s Duesenberg they had while growing up, lamenting that it was ultimately donated to the war effort as metal scrap during WW2. Joan recounts that early in their relationship, he would pass by her home smiling and waving in his 1955 yellow convertible Pontiac on his drive to work. Al’s mechanical abilities allowed him to restore and work on several classic cars including Chevy Corvair’s and a Ford Thunderbird. The T-bird’s restoration efforts earned him a “best of show-original” in 2018 NARAACA Ron Barnett Memorial car show. Even in his final day, he was tinkering with carburetors and writing down instructions on needed work for his beloved cars. He also enjoyed listening to music, skiing, gardening, and camping with his family. Al is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan Birks; his sons, Albert William Birks (Cinda Ehmann) and Carl Walter Birks (Catherine McMahan) ; two grandchildren, Angelina Ablia and Alexis Johnson; 4 great grandchildren; his brother, Floyd Kershaw; his cousin, Fred Stingel; other relatives and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Albert Ellsworth Birks; his mother, Marie Stinger Birks and 2 half sisters. Al will be missed by his family, friends, former colleagues and fellow car enthusiasts. His family knows he is cruising in one of his cars, smiling as he drives off into the sunset (with tools and a spare fuel pump in the trunk-just in case) with Zippy, his favorite cat sitting by his side. Magnolia Funeral Home has been honored to serve the family of Mr. Albert “Al” Stingel Birks.
