Charles Elwood Will

Charles E. Will, 90, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2020, at home and in the presence of his daughter Kimberly Will and future son-in-law Patrick Ruelle.    Chuck. as he preferred, was born in Detroit and was the youngest of 9 children. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict and was long term employee of Giffles, working first as a Draftsman and after attending Wayne State University, worked as an Industrial Engineer and Industrial Model Maker, which was his passion.    In 1955, while on assignment to Chicago, he met Shirley Aikens and the two were married a year and a week later. Shirley, "Poopsie", was the love of Chuck's life and they were married 52 years until Shirley's passing in 2008.   They had one child, a daughter Kimberly. Chuck was a wonderful husband and father. Always willing to lend a helping hand, Chuck lived by "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". He loved children and when his daughter asked for a pair of stilts, Chuck got right to it and grabbed some left over lumber from a basement remodel and whipped up a pair of stilts, also making a go-cart and magician's table for his daughter. Chuck loved being out with the neighborhood kids on Halloween, dressing in costume and giving them a fright, all in good fun. At the ages of 83-85, he volunteered as a 4th grade math tutor at the local elementary school. He was fondly referred to by his students as, "Uncle Chuck". Those few years at the elementary school was a source of great joy for him.    In 1982, he was elected Master of Livonia Masonic Lodge 586. Chuck had many interests including computers, crosswords, sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, coin collecting, golf, reading, watching the Detroit Tiger's, Michigan Wolverine's and Detroit Lions, travel and spending time with his family and friends and the works of poet Robert W. Service, especially "The Squaw Man", "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and "The Shooting of Dan MCGrew". He was a fantastic artist and calligrapher too.   Chuck was a devout Christian and a 50+ year member of Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church.  Chuck's favorite doctor shared a fond memory of Chuck always eating his Subway sandwich in her lobby and falling asleep in the exam room while he waited, which necessitated her need to wake him up. Chuck always said, he could fall asleep anywhere.   Chuck is preceded in death by beloved wife Shirley Ann (Aikens) Will; mother Nellie Will; brothers Frank, William (Felicia), Guy and Ross; sisters Delores (William) Lawhead, Thelma and Julia.   Chuck is survived by dearest daughter Kimberly Will, soon to be son-in -law Patrick Ruelle, brother Richard (Patricia) Will, nieces Janine (Mickey) McEvoy, Cynthia Will, Victoria (Tom) Leak and nephew Brad (Renee) Lawhead. Great- nephews Paul Kenczyk, Blair McEvoy, Jonathon Lawhead, Matthew Lawhead. Great-niece Lauren Kenczyk (Matt Greeley) and great-great nephew Dexter Greeley.   In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Chuck may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, Shriner's Hospital for Children, charity of choice or plant a tree in Chuck's memory.
Private Committal
Glen Eden Memorial Park 35667 W. Eight Mile Livonia, MI 48152