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Alvin Vincent Stockman

PFC in 603rd Engineer Camouflage Bn : Co D

ASN#32376181

Born 1911 in NY, Died 1994

County of residence at enlistment: Erie County, NY
Other residence(s): Amherst, NY; Buffalo, NY
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: unskilled occupations in building of aircraft, n.e.c.
Notes: Formerly Co C
Source: 603rd Camouflage Engineer Roster provided by W. Anderson; 603rd Company C handwritten roster; Christmas 1944 Company C poem

Alvin Stockman was born on December 12, 1911 in Williamsville, NY, the youngest of three boys. His father was a painting contractor.

He grew up in Amherst, NY. His father died when he was quite young, and his mother remarried. He completed a grammar school education and went to work; the 1930 census shows him working as a caretaker in a poolroom. By 1935, he was living as a lodger in Buffalo, NY and following in his father’s footsteps as a house painter.

Alvin registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, at which time he was still painting—working for John A. Gould, a Buffalo contractor. He enlisted in the Army on June 22, 1942; by then his occupation was listed as “unskilled occupations in building of aircraft.” He was assigned to the 603rd Engineer Camouflage Battalion and served in Europe with the unit; he was discharged on October 19, 1945.

After returning to Buffalo, he took up painting again. Alvin married Colette Ritter on August 16, 1946; they would go on to have a daughter, Sharon, the following year.

He spent his career as a painter and served for a time as the president of Painters’ Union No. 112.

Alvin died on June 6, 1994; he is buried at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Williamsville, NY.

Sources:

1920 census

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/records/86888386?tid=88404073&pid=372174187104&ssrc=pt

1930 census

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/records/28748185?tid=88404073&pid=372174187104&ssrc=pt

1940 census

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/records/10967263?tid=88404073&pid=372174187104&ssrc=pt

1940 draft card

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238/records/302759693?tid=&pid=&queryId=f088b0f6-48e5-455e-a9b2-805367fe31fe&_phsrc=Xwd4&_phstart=successSource

1942 enlistment record

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8939/records/1556008?tid=&pid=&queryId=7d1e25a9-71f9-4144-a738-88b90e2aeb71&_phsrc=Xwd3&_phstart=successSource

1946 marriage record

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61632/records/5864745?tid=88404073&pid=372174187104&ssrc=pt

1950 census

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62308/records/293349772?tid=88404073&pid=372174187104&ssrc=pt

1994 Social Security death index

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/records/60202398?tid=&pid=&queryId=3675de9f-4f84-4bb8-a7f2-d308d747f8dd&_phsrc=Xwd6&_phstart=successSource

1994 VA death record

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2441/records/3879818?tid=88404073&pid=372174187104&ssrc=pt

1994 Find a Grave record

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29687199/alvin-vincent-stockman

1994 obituary in the Buffalo News (NY)

https://www.newspapers.com/image/875879579/?match=3&terms=alvin%20v%20stockman

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