Alvin was born July 9, 1940 to Emil and Sophia Faichtinger of Pettibone, Texas. He attended Buckholts High School and worked at Safeway and the cotton gin with his dad in Cameron, Texas. Alvin was introduced to Mary Catherine Viaclovsky by a mutual friend at a dance and fell madly in love. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1962 as an airman. He taught personnel to drive tanker trucks and fueled aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor. He proposed to Mary by mail while deployed in Hawaii. On Sept. 15, 1963, they were married in Wallis, Texas and she followed him to his Naval assignment at NAS Barber’s Point on the island of Oahu. This was the beginning of their beautiful love story, where their first son, Michael, was born, and where they were thrilled to return to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2014.

Upon returning stateside in 1965, they moved to Eagle Lake, Texas, and had two more children, Dean and Becky. Alvin worked for Rice Aero Inc. as an aircraft mechanic for several years before beginning a 25+ year career as a professional truck driver. They moved to Altair, Texas to make their permanent family home. In 1981, Al purchased a Ford CL 9000 cab-over rig and was an owner operator driver for Blaschke Trucking. He did both out-of-state long-hauls and short-hauls all across Texas. He loved to point out roads and buildings where he delivered materials, making him an integral part of the infrastructure of Texas.

After leaving the road life, he worked for Ellison Chevrolet in East Bernard as a mechanic before joining his son Michael’s automotive service business, Quality Services. After retirement, Al remained active in mechanic work, his local Neighborhood Watch Program, and his many hobbies.

Alvin and Mary enjoyed gardening, canning, and tending to their flowers. Alvin was very proud of his many beautiful plumeria plants, which reminded him of their early years in Hawaii. He also enjoyed building and flying model airplanes with the Garwood Flying Club. Al and Mary loved attending many church picnics in the area to enjoy some good polka music and a beer or two. They were always very involved in the lives of their children and grandchildren. They attended countless football games, choir concerts, band concerts, theater productions, school carnivals, birthday parties, school veterans’ programs and graduations. Family-time was their favorite past-time.

Alvin is survived by son Michael, his wife Anne and their children Casey and Kendall; son Dean, his wife Marsha, and their children Tyler and Sydney; daughter Becky Ripper, her husband Scott, and their children Alaina and Alyssa; sister Mary Ann Clark and her husband Darryl; sister Rosielee Macha and her husband George; brother Emil Faichtinger and his wife, Beth; sister Helen Helm, and her husband Steve, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 56 years, Mary Catherine Faichtinger, his father, Emil Jim Faichtinger and mother, Sophia Rozner Faichtinger.

Alvin had a big personality and an even bigger heart. Although we always want more time, we feel truly blessed to have had him in our lives for nearly 84 years and take comfort in knowing that he is reunited in Heaven with the love of his life, Mary.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, TX and Thursday June 20 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus, TX.

A Parish Prayer Service and Rosary by Deacon John Glueck will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 7 p.m. at Henneke Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, with Father Nelson Gonzalez officiating. Burial will take place in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery in Columbus, TX.

Pallbearers are Tyler Faichtinger (grandson), Kevin Faichtinger (nephew), Jacob Helm (nephew), Jonathon Macha (nephew), Dwight Clark (nephew), and Aiden Clark (great-nephew).

Honorary pallbearers are Steve Nelson (friend), Darryl Clark Jr (nephew), Craig Macha (nephew), and Jeff Knipple (friend).

Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome. com.