William Priest

William “Bill” Priest of Harper Woods was born November 11, 1950, in Detroit Michigan, and passed away on January 27, 2022, in Detroit Michigan.  He was the son of Robert Jay Priest M.D. and Helen (Stoica) Priest.  Bill is survived by his wife Rose Mary (Poniewierski) Priest, daughters Robyn Lynette and June Elise, sisters Margaret (Jan) Herbst and Barbara (Klaus) Kehbein, and several nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents and nephew, John Herbst.

Bill graduated from Grosse Pointe High School (South) in 1968 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Wayne State University in 1974. He worked for the Department of Social Services in Detroit, The Detroit/Wayne County Area Agency on Aging, earned his Auto Mechanic Certification from the Michigan Career Institute in 1991, worked as an auto mechanic for several years, and with his vast knowledge and enjoyment of computers, became an I.T. Technician for the Grosse Pointe Public Libraries, from which he retired.

He loved music and played the trumpet and drums, was an avid sailor, racing in the DRYA and the Port Huron to Mackinac race.  He loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, and in the last few years, regularly enjoyed riding his bicycle, and being a member of PFLAG Detroit.