William H. Chauvin Jr.

William H. Chauvin Jr., age 95, formerly (2014) of Grosse Pointe Woods, passed away peacefully with his children at his side on February 7, 2015. He was born on July 30, 1919 in Detroit; son of William and Clara (nee Sommers) Chauvin. Loving father of Kathleen Chauvin and William Chauvin III (Christine). Proud grandfather of Corinne (Adrian) Forbes and Kimberly (Zachary) Blair. Great-grandfather of Sophia and Andrew Forbes; and Amelia, Samuel, and Reece Blair. Brother of Mildred Crenshaw (Border) (d. 2005), and beloved uncle of Arthur Border (Claudia) and Carol (d. 2014) (Dave) Bergeson. Bill was raised in Royal Oak, graduating from Royal Oak High School in 1938. The family briefly lived in Philadelphia during his younger years, where his father was an accountant for Ford Motor Company. After graduation and before World War II, Mr. Chauvin worked at Greenfield Village as a tour guide under the direct supervision of Henry Ford. Bill married the love of his life, Dorothy Ann Stern, on October 24, 1942 in the Martha Mary Chapel of Greenfield Village in Dearborn. During World War II, they lived in Garland TX for three years where Bill worked for Continental Motors providing engineering support for war-time production and our country's defense. They returned to build their first home in Northwest Detroit in 1947, where they raised their son and daughter, before moving back to Dorothy's family home of Grosse Pointe in 1972. They enjoyed over sixty wonderful years together until Dorothy's passing in 2008. Mr. Chauvin had a successful career as a tool designer and engineer, culminating in major machine sales, working for Continental Motors, Research Design Service, and F. Jos Lamb Company (Cincinnati Lamb Inc.), retiring in 1986. Mr. Chauvin was a direct descendant of Charles Chauvin (d. 1772), one of thirteen original French family settlers of Detroit, who arrived in 1720. Bill's passion for Genealogy of the French Families of the Detroit River Region and history has been deeply embraced by his immediate family. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave., at Vernier Rd., Grosse Pointe Woods. He will lie instate on Friday at 9:30 am until the time of his funeral service at 10:00 am at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 375 Lothrop, Grosse Pointe Farms. Pastor Justin Dittrich will officiate. A private family burial will take place on Saturday February 21, 2015. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church or the Michigan Humane Society, 30300 Telegraph, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236