Alfonso Rickerson, Sr.

ALFONSO RICKERSON, SR. (RICKY), 96, of Buffalo, NY, passed away peaceably in his sleep on Saturday morning November 26, 2016 at the Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home.  He was born on March 9th, 1920 near Claxton, Georgia to the late Joseph and Carrie Rickerson.

Alfonso left the Claxton area at age 17 when he enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he learned to drive truck and pilot boats.  After CCC camp, he went to Florida where he was employed on railroads for a couple years. After Florida, he enlisted in the Army and was trained at Fort Bennett and Fort Bragg. During World War II, he was assigned to a tank unit. He was honorably discharged after his service.  

While visiting a relative, Al decided to move to Buffalo where he met and married Helen Dunlap. Their union produced a son, Alfonso Jr. and made him the step dad to six additional sons. Alfonso work at General Motors in Buffalo for 42 years before retiring. He loved jazz, baseball, reading and traveling which he participated in well into his nineties.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; sisters Beatrice Walden, Blanche Hammond, Jurutha, Jones, Nell Grant; brothers Asia Rickerson, Marcus Rickerson, and Ward Rickerson; his step sons Maurice Cotton, Murphy Cotton, Melvin Cotton, Melroy Cotton, Carlton Cotton and Paris Cotton.   He was also preceded in death by his close personal companion Willa Mae Young-Simpson.

 Alfonso is survived by his son Alfonso, of Titusville, Pennsylvania, his wife Ruthellen, their children Eugene, Avonlea, Armand along with a whole host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

He was a longtime member of the Hopewell Baptist Church where funeral services will be held on December 10th at 1301 Fillmore Avenue in Buffalo. Visitation for family and friends will be at 11 am and the funeral services will start at 12 pm. The internment will be at the Pine Ridge Cemetery. 

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