Raymond J. Green

Raymond J. Green, age 94, longtime resident of Northville, passed away April 29, 2023.  He was born on September 25,1928 in Smethwick, West Midlands, England; son of Abraham Raymond Green and Rose (Bedford) Green.  As a young boy, he endured World War II and spent many nights in an air raid shelter in his back yard.  Throughout and post war, he completed his studies earning the equivalent of a master’s degree.  Raymond then began a career with Chance’s Lighthouse Company and later moved on to Cadbury’s doing design work for the confectionery company before ultimately emigrating to the United States in 1956.  There he met the love of his life, Shirley Powrie, and they were united in marriage on September 15, 1961.  They spent 49 years devoted to one another until her death on January 30, 2011.

Upon moving to the United States, Raymond began a very successful career with General Motors working as a mechanical engineer at Hydra-Matic. Eventually promoted to management, he held multiple patents with GM, designed one of the first 4-speed automatic transmissions in a light-duty truck, and worked on the team that designed a rotary engine in the 1970’s. Later, also at the Warren Tech Center, he supervised design groups for Chevrolet before transferring back to Hydra-Matic which he retired from in 1991.

Raymond’s brilliant mind and ability to think outside the box helped him in many aspects of his life.  He was always able to figure out what needed to be done and worked hard to complete the task at hand.  He was a talented woodworker and used he finishing skills to complete the upstairs of his family’s home as well as building a summer retreat in the Upper Peninsula where his family spent their summers.  His love of nature and wildlife was evident in the property surrounding his home where he engineered a pond complete with a wall made of giant boulders moved entirely by hand.  The pond was surrounded by duck boxes that he thoughtfully designed and crafted for wood ducks and hooded mergansers. Over the years, the boxes, which were fitted with specialized cameras, were home to hundreds of baby ducks that Raymond enjoyed watching  hatch.

Raymond was the proud owner of two Morgan 3-wheelers, a 3 wheeled roadster produced in England, and was a member of the Morgan 3-wheeler club.  Raymond, who was very sociable, was easy to talk to and could engage with anyone.  His friendships were very important to him. Long past retirement, he continued relationships with colleagues from GM, often meeting for breakfast or lunch each week.  Raymond was a beloved husband, father, and friend and will be missed by all who loved him.  Raymond is survived by his loving son, Ray and his son’s wife Cindy.

Memorial visitation will be held Friday, May 19, 2023 from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Casterline Funeral Home ,122 West Dunlap, Northville, MI. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) , 24359 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 125 , Southfield MI 48075 or Michigan Humane , 30300 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025.