(January 2, 1917-December 2, 1970)

Gerald R. Dockum, 53, Norwood, a long-time Alcoa employee, died at 1:45 o’clock Wednesday morning, Dec. 2, 1970, in the House of the Good Samaritan in Watertown.

He had been a patient there since he and his wife were injured in a two-car accident Nov. 18.

Mrs. Dockum is a patient in Potsdam Hospital, where her condition was described by hospital authorities Wednesday as satisfactory.

Funeral services for Mr. Dockum will be held Saturday morning at 10 o’clock at the Buck Funeral Home in Norwood, with burial in Calvary Cemetery, Norwood. Calling hours are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Friday.

Surviving are his wife; two sons, Capt. Daniel Dockum, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry, in Europe, and Dennis Dockum, Norwood; four daughters, Mrs. Francis (Marna) Bellanca, Rochester, Mrs. Roy (Mary Ellen) Westerfield, Phoenix, Ariz., Miss Sheila Dockum, Syracuse, and Mrs. Stephen (Christine) Labar, Potsdam; his mother, Mrs. Maude Dockum DeRochie, Brasher Falls; one sister, Mrs. Kenneth (Patricia) King, Brasher Falls; one brother, Tobin Dockum, Felts Mills; four grandchildren.

Mr. Dockum was born at Chateaugay Lake, Jan. 2, 1917 a son of Miller and Maude Dockum. He graduated from Chateaugay High school and began working at Massena Operations, Alcoa, in 1936. He was a planner in the planning traffic department.

He and Miss Claire Jenner, Norwood, were married June 1939, in St. Andrew’s Church, Norwood. They had since resided in Norwood.

He was a member of the Norwood Kiwanis Club and a past president of that organization. He was a member and a past president of the Alcoa 25 Year Service Club. He was an exempt fireman, a member of the Inlet Outing Club, and was very active in the Norwood City Four Quartet during World War II, when they entertained at benefits.

The automobile accident happened Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 48 and the River Road. Mr. Dockum sustained multiple skull fractures, and Mrs. Dockum sustained scalp and facial lacerations and a fractured ankle.

Mr. Dockum was transferred to the House of the Good Samaritan in Watertown, where his condition has remained critical.

Driver of the other car was Bruce A. Tamblin, 29, Norfolk, who was not injured. He was issued a summons for failure to stop for a stop sign. The Dockum car was going north on County Road 48 and the Tamblin car was traveling west on the River Road.

(From the December 3(?), 1970 edition of the Watertown Daily Times. This obituary provided by Mr. Dockum’s son, Dennis G.)