Retired Staff SGT United States Air Force

Service times: Private Interment, Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

Retired Staff Sgt. Alvin C. Christian, 84, passed away on November 25, 2018 at the Lebanon V.A. Medical Center where he had been a patient for the past nine and a half years. Alvin was born in Yukon, WV, but at an early age moved to Tazewell, VA where he grew up.

In 1955 he joined the U.S.A.F. and served as an Air Traffic Controller. He served two tours of duty of which one was at Monkey Mountain, Vietnam, where his unit was hit and he was injured. He recuperated in Tokyo and returned to active duty. He was stationed in Thailand, Okinawa and Spain and twice in Germany. He competed in Judo for the U.S. Armed Forces throughout Europe and was a heavyweight champion for three straight years, 1963, 1964 and 1965. While in Germany, he learned to speak the language and was used as an interpreter at military meetings throughout Europe. He retired from the military in 1975.

Alvin was married for 40 years to Mary Wolpert Christian. They moved to Corvallis, OR in 1978 where he loved to hunt deer and elk, salmon fishing and deep-sea fishing. Al was a member of the Corvallis Lodge 1413, B.P.O.E. where he was past Exulted Ruler. He became interested in “rockhounding” while living in Oregon and had his own lapidary shop. He learned to wire wrap stones that he later polished, making them into jewelry. When his family moved back to Columbia in 1994, he sold his rocks and jewelry at Roots and Green Dragon Markets as well at craft shows throughout the Mid Atlantic states. The kid’s referred to him as the “Rockman.”

In addition to his wife Mary, he is survived by his children: Joni, John, Pamela, Whitney and Kelly; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren; brothers: Verle, Walter, Orris, and Robert and sister, Patricia. He was preceded in death by a stillborn infant and siblings, William and Carol.

A private ceremony with Military Honors will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

Arrangements by the Clyde W. Kraft Funeral Home, Inc., Columbia/Landisville www.clydekraft.com

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