ALVIN L. VAN DUSEN

Alvin was born on Sept. 6, 1937 in Alpena, Michigan, the son of Albert and Myrtle (Allen) VanDusen and graduated from Alpena High school with the class of 1955. Immediately following high school, Alvin enlisted in the United States Air Force and proudly served his country for the next 20 years as an instrument technician, retiring from the Air Force in 1975 as a Technical Sergeant.

Alvin met his wife, Gloria Grafford, in Riverside, California on a blind date while he was in the service. She was unaware that her friends were setting her up, but clearly something went well because after two years together they got married on Dec. 27, 1958 and remained married for the next 62+ years.

After Alvin’s military service, they made their home in Alpena where Alvin went to work as a watch and jewelry repairman for Froggett Jewelry before moving to Walloon Lake. Alvin then went on to work for Allied Signal in Boyne City as an Instrumentation Repairman for 10 years continuing the type of work he did in the military and later drove school buses for the Petoskey schools for over 25 years. He never fully retired and would continue repairing clocks through his own business Al’s Clock Repair. He was such a wonderful repairman that he received calls from all over the state to fix grandfather clocks which he would willingly drive to pick them up so that could make detours to spend time with his family, many of whom lived in Eastern and Southern Michigan.

In addition to spending time with his children and grandchildren, Alvin enjoyed golfing, bowling and driving all over the country with his wife to every place she wanted to go. Alvin refused to ever plan trips, but if Gloria planned it, he would jump at the chance to drive and would enjoy every moment together with her.

Alvin was a true community man where he was a member of the NRA, DAV, VFW, and the Boyne City Free Methodist Church. He was a man who was always willing to help someone in need and if something needed to be fixed, he was right there to give a hand and figure out the problem.

Alvin is survived by his wife, Gloria, two children, Melody Culey, of Oscoda and Gordon and his wife Fern Van Dusen, of Canton, three grandchildren, Jason and wife Amanda Culey, Julianne Culey, and Joseph Evans, four great-grandchildren, Vivian Evans and Dean Evans, Carter Culey, and Nicholas Culey, a great-great-grandchild, Riley Long, and by a brother, Albert and his wife Emily Van Dusen.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by a brother, Allen “Pete” Van Dusen.

A memorial service celebrating Alvin’s life will be held on Saturday May, 1 at 11 a.m. at the Boyne City Free Methodist Church. Alvin will be laid to rest at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan at a later date.