Obituaries

William Henry Lawrence

William Henry Lawrence passed away November 30,  2017.  He was born 6 January, 1926, In Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was raised by his Aunt, Celia Lawrence, and his father, Robert Lawrence.  He grew up next to Dunmore's grand Nie Aug Park.  He spent many summer days by its waterfalls, steep cliffs, museum, amusement park, tunnels and woods.  The hobbies of his youth included home-made marionette shows.  In his teens, he would purchase used radios for parts and make transmitters and amplifiers and recording gear which he would use with a musical record cutting machine he purchased.  In his late teens, he passed his FCC license and was able to work for the local radio station.  A unknown benefactor applied to RCA electronics school in New York City, on his behalf (The acceptance letter was a surprise) and he spend an entire fall there until he was drafted.

James William Ford

James William Ford, a  beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, died at age 94 on November 23 at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. Ford was born February 1, 1923 in Alameda, California, the son of Eunice George Ford and Shelton C. Ford, and older brother of Eunice Ford. He is survived by his second wife, Phyllis Ford; three children, Julian Ford, Amy Milkovich, Carol Arkin; two step-children, Jessica Leix and Peter Leix; 10 grandchildren; 1 step-granddaughter; and 7 great-grandchildren.  

 

In the first three decades of his life, Mr. Ford was an outstanding student and a City of Detroit High School Debate champion, served in the Army as a meteorologist during World War II, a graduate of Oberlin College in 1947, a Master of Arts recipient in economics from Harvard University in 1949, one of the first class of Fulbright Scholars in 1951 (at Cambridge University in Great Britain), and Doctor of Philosophy recipient in economics from Harvard University in 1954. Mr. Ford taught economics at Columbia University from 1951 to 1953, at Vanderbilt University from 1953 to 1957, and Ohio State University from 1957 to 1959, before becoming a postdoctoral fellow at the University Chicago with the eminent economist Milton Friedman.

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Sue Carole Peterman

of Clawson, age 78, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at Beaumont Hospital in Troy, MI.  She was born September 29, 1939 in Detroit, MI, the daughter of Michael John and Mary (Garanich) Plawchan.

Sue graduated from Detroit Pershing High School, where she was a cheerleader, a swimmer and in the Glee Club.  She went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI in June, 1961.  She was an active member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.  After graduating she became a loving mother who raised and shaped the lives of her 8 children.  Sue spent most of her life as a homemaker and after raising her children retired as an administrative assistant.  Most recently she volunteered at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI.  Sue was a member of Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Clawson, MI for 20+ years, where she was also very active in the choir.  She enjoyed singing, golfing, bowling and traveling.  She was a good cook, liked gardening and loved to shop.  Most importantly, she loved to spend time with her 10 grandchildren.

Richard "Dick" Kinsey

Richard “Dick” Kinsey was born on July 10, 1924 in Chelsea, MI.  He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Thompson) Kinsey and the youngest of four siblings, Matt, Peg and Tom. Dick’s mother died when he was an infant and he was raised by his immigrant father and his 14 years-older sister Ivy M. “Peg” (Kinsey) Pierce during “the Great Depression.”

Dick was a 1942 graduate of Chelsea High School and served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations with the 116th Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division from Omaha Beach on D+3 through the Battle of St. Lo.  He was severely wounded in combat operations in Normandy on August 17, 1944 and may have been one of the first soldiers medically evacuated by aircraft back to England.