Obituary of William F.R. Briscoe

Long time Grosse Pointe Resident William Frederick Ralph Briscoe died Sunday, September 23, 2007, at Beechwood Manor on Mack Avenue. Born in Detroit, Mich., on January 8, 1918, to Ralph Briscoe and Anna Marie Kurth, he spent his childhood in Trenton, Mich., growing up with two brothers and three sisters. He graduated from high school the same month he turned 17 years old and joined the U.S. Merchant Marine. He later attended Purdue University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1939. In 1942 he married Vivian Johnson to whom he was married for over 62 years. With there three young sons they moved to Grosse Pointe Farms in late 1950. Both William and Vivian lived in the same home on Piche Ave. until they passed away. Mr. Briscoe was employed at U.S. Rubber (later Uniroyal) for over 40 years, working in tire development and later as the corporation’s tire expert in product liability lawsuits. He loved his work and enjoyed telling his children and grandchildren lengthy stories about the latest lawsuit and how he had saved the company great sums of money by his testimony and expertise. His free time included a seven-decade interest in collecting stamps. He was also an avid golfer for many years and traveled extensively, especially enjoying his many trips to Florida where he enjoyed walking the beach in the early mornings in search of shells and watching the sunsets with his wife and friends. More recently he became involved with the Gideons, serving as the treasurer of a local chapter. His greatest pleasures in his final years were going to Jefferson Yacht Club for dinner a few times each week and attending Grosse Pointe Congregational Church on Sunday mornings. He had been a member of his church for over 56 years, including serving as a deacon. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife, and three sisters. He is survived by two brothers, three sons, William (Linda) of Carmel, Ind., Michael (Laura) of Grosse Pointe Woods and Richard (Penny) of Vicksburg, Mich., and 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Mr. Briscoe’s remains will be interred at the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church columbarium. While there will be no visitation, a memorial service will take place on Friday, September 28, at 10:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, 240 Chalfonte, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 or to Gideons International, P.O. Box 36881, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236.