Alvin Benson Christie

December 5, 1934 - December 19, 2017

Kind and gentle, Alvin Christie lost his battle with cancer on December 19th, 2017 at his home in Dundee, Oregon. Alvin arrived into the family of Earl and Flossie Christie on December 5th, 1934. As the 5th child of 7 siblings, he enjoyed life raised in a log house on Chehalem Mountain in Newberg, Oregon where everyone was welcomed; friends, family and strangers alike. He attended Newberg schools and went on to study at Portland State University and learned to be a watchmaker at OIT in Klamath Falls, Oregon. A dedicated wrestler, Alvin was a runner-up to the 1956 Olympic Team. After the Olympic Trials, he enlisted and coached the US Army wrestling team in Germany during his military service. His passion for wrestling continued at the Multnomah Athletic Club where he wrestled for 15 years. At age 40, his final wrestling competition was at the AAU National Masters. Alvin enjoyed the majority of 34 years at Tektronix as a research lab technician at Tektronix where he and a co-worker received a patent for their invention of the “Travelling Wave Deflector of Electron Beams.” Alvin was very involved in his community; as a member of the Dundee Planning Committee he worked to acquire property for the development of Billick Park. Alvin and one of his pals established the Earl and Edna Gillis Wrestling Tournament which continues to provide funding for scholarships. In retirement, Alvin donned his climbing spurs and chainsaw and began topping and taking down trees near homes in housing developments; a skill learned from his father in his youth. He always loved the challenges and hard work that came with taking down problematic trees. A wonderful husband, father, brother, and friend, Alvin will be missed by all who knew him. He was always happily helping others. Everything he did was laced with his funny sense of humor, compassion, and love of life. Alvin is survived by his wife Virginia Ritzer-Christie, children Julie Marshall, Greta Nieus, Eric Christie, Mat Christie, Chad Ritzer and April Burbank, seventeen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Alvin loved the outdoors, and especially the Rogue River where his ashes will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Willamette Valley Hospice.