Alvin B. Booze, 81, of Walsenburg, Colo., died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, at his home.

He was born Sept. 6, 1930, in Blair, to Carl and Jessie Wilson Booze. Alvin and his parents later moved to Fremont, where he lived and attended school. At the age of 17, he joined the Army in Fort Crook, Omaha. Sometime after that, he had the opportunity to make his choice between the Army and the Air Force, and he decided to enter the Air Force. He served almost 22 years of active duty in Korea and different parts of the world, overseas and in the United States. He received the following medals: the Korean Service Medal, 3 Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Efficiency Honor Medal and other ribbons. He retired in April 1969 at the age of 39 with the rank of senior master sergeant. After retiring, he purchased 280 acres of land near the East Spanish Peak, farmed and raised cattle for the next 10 years.

In August 1978, he married Jeannette Linscott and the couple celebrated their 33rd anniversary on Aug. 4, 2011. The couple moved to Prague in January 1979 where they lived for 25 years. He served again as the Prague School District bus driver for 12 years. He also was engaged in the farming industry and did road maintenance for the county before returning to Walsenburg in 2004.

Survivors include: his wife; a stepson, Thomas (Bea) Linscott of Mead, Colo.; a stepdaughter, Lillian (Ken) Medina of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a son, Michael Booze; two daughters, Barbara (Delano) Delzer and Linda Simpleman, all of Colorado Springs; brother, Lawrence Booze; and sister-in-law, Elsie Booze of Fremont; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gerald and Clara Patrick of Pueblo, Colo.; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister and three brothers.

The funeral was held Dec. 30 at St. Mary's Church in Walsenburg.