John Elbert (Al) Carriger – Army Air Corps World War II Veteran

John Elbert (Al) Carriger was born in Bowie, AZ on Au. 28, 1914
and died at his home in Dry Creek Valley on June 9, 2007 at the age
of 92. He is preceded in death by his wife Julia Ruth Carriger in
2003, and he is survived by his children, John (Diane) Carriger of
Dry Creek Valley, Ann (Tom) Wittenbrock of Haiku, Maui, HI, and
Richard (Judy) Carriger of Langley, OK. He is also survived by four
grandchildren, Jeff Carriger, Christian (Jessi) Carriger, Kailan
(Dustin) Loeffler, Joe Carriger, and one great-grandson, Mason
Loeffler.
He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and his
dedicated caretaker Elena Loya.
Al served in World War II in the Army Air Corps in North Africa,
Sicily, France and Germany.
He owned and operated the Ben Franklin store in Healdsburg for
many years, where his customers became his friends. He taught
business skills to many of Healdsburg’s youth whose first
employment was with the 5&10 cent store. He entered the real
estate sales business for 10 years prior to retirement.
Al and Julia spent their retirement years traveling in their
motorhome throughout the United States and Canada, and wintered in
Mexico, where they met many new friends who frequently visited them
at their Gopher Springs Ranch in Dry Creek Valley.
He served on the Healdsburg City Council in the 1960s, was a
member of the Healdsburg Rotary Club, Sotoyome Lodge number 123, F
and AM, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The Carriger family thankfully acknowledges the long-term
support provided by Memorial Hospice of Santa Rosa. Graveside
services will be held in September.