Richard John Valuet

Richard Valuet Obituary March 2023 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father, Richard John Valuet. He was 98 years old. He died peacefully and quietly in his own bed on March 28th, 2023. He had the comfort of many family members in the days leading up to his passing. He is survived by his children (Bonnie, Mike, Dave, Cindy, Bill and Lory) as well as their families. Visitation will be held on Sunday April 2nd from 3pm to 8pm at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home in Royal Oak. Wake service will be at 7pm. The funeral will be held at 12 noon on Monday April 3rd at St. Mary Church in Royal Oak. Burial at 1pm at Roseland Park Cemetery. While we are saddened by the loss, we are also taking this opportunity to celebrate his life. At 98 years old, almost 99, he lived a long, active life. He was a husband, father, successful business man, traveler, pilot, sailor and more. Let us tell you a bit about this incredible life. He was born in Royal Oak, Michigan in 1924 in the Age of Radio. Long before TV, computers, the internet and smart phones, families, like his, would gather around the radio in the evenings. Programs like Amos and Andy and Our Miss Brooks were big hits back then. He attended high school in Royal Oak, Michigan where he met the woman who would become his wife. He proposed to his school sweet heart, Ruth Keehn, who happily said yes. They were married right after high school and began a long journey together. They were married for a little over 70 years. Ruth proceeded Richard to Heaven in August of 2013. Ruth and Richard started their married life together about the time America entered WWII. He had polio as a child which left him with a disability in his right hand. That disqualified him from the army and kept him off the frontlines of the war. That didn’t stop him from contributing. They both helped the war effort by working in factories building planes destined for the battlefield. Ruth and Richard had six children together over a span of 20 years. That’s a lot of years of diapers, training wheels, drivers ed, first crushes, college tuition and welcoming new sons and daughters-in-law. They have 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren (so far). After the war, Richard began his career arc that would ultimately make him very successful. Sales was his forte and he began as a shoe salesman on Huron street in Pontiac. While he was good at it, it wasn’t enough. He turned to real estate where the prospects were better. He grew as a salesman and later opened his own brokerage firm with a partner. Eventually he stepped out on his own with his own brokerage company and VAL-U-WAY Realty was born. Later his was the second company to join the Century 21 franchise in Michigan. He sold houses, built houses, rented houses – he was good at it and it was good to him. It allowed him to retire early. Richard was also a technology adopter. He was a whiz on his computer, only occasionally relying on his children for ‘technical support’. He loved his smart phone and the connectedness it brought him. One of the classic memories of technical adoption was when he brought home the first microwave. The first test subject was a box of frozen appetizers. The box only had conventional oven instructions so we cut the time in half, knowing the microwave would be faster. We watched anxiously as the time counted down. When the bell sounded, we popped open the door to find… smoldering ash. It turns out that seven minutes in the microwave was a touch excessive. From that point on, whenever anyone asked how much time the microwave needed, “give it seven minutes” was invariably the answer. In between career building and child raising, Ruth and Richard were travelers. World travelers in fact. They explored Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, Hawaii, Pacific islands and more. There were unforgettable road trips with the kids packed in the car shoulder to shoulder. Trips Up North, Down South and many places in between. Later, after Richard obtained his private pilot license, there were family plane trips to points all over the state. Even an epic trip from Michigan all the way to the farthest tip of the Florida Keys. From the canals of Venice, Italy to the beaches of Venice, Florida, they saw a lot of the world’s amazing places. Trips to Florida and specifically Venice became more common. Richard and Ruth bought property and built a home on the beach in Venice. That became the destination after early retirement and was their home for more than 35 years. Many memories were built walking the beaches, collecting shark’s teeth, swimming in the pool, sipping cocktails at sunset and enjoying good meals overlooking the water. Bodies of water featured prominently in decades of their life together. None more loved than Sylvan Lake. With water comes boats. Many fondly remember their big wooden Century that thundered around the lake. Cruising, water skiing or riding the bubble board was always the order of the day on many a warm summer day or evening. Richard’s boating preferences changed in Florida where he learned how to sail and rode the wind up and down the Venice coast on his sailboat. While we could continue to fill pages with memories like these, we will leave you with one final one. It was the afternoon of their 70th wedding anniversary. The family was preparing to gather in the evening for a celebratory dinner. Their youngest son, who lives out of state, flew in for the party and was staying with them. As Richard was showering, Ruth turned to her son and unprompted, revealed the secret of their long and successful marriage. “It’s him”, she said, “I would never have made it this long without him". Later, as Ruth was dressing, Richard said to his son, and again unprompted, revealed the secret of their long and successful marriage. “It’s her”, he said, “it could never have been possible without her”. If that is not the definition of love, we don’t know what is. We take comfort in knowing that after a long separation they are together again. We take joy in celebrating Richard’s long, amazing, life well lived. We invite you to do so as well.

Richard John Valuet

June 12, 1924 - March 28, 2023