George William "Bill" Whitman, 76, of Romulus, Mich., died June 15, 2009, in Pontiac Lake in White Lake Township, Mich. Death was due to drowning.

He was born Nov. 24, 1932, to Harry and Marguerite Baker Whitman. On July 28, 1951, he married, former Mercer County resident Barbara Ann Grier, who survives.

Other survivors are two sons, Daniel (Dana) Whitman, Seattle, Wash., and David (Betsy) Whitman, Philadelphia, Pa.; a brother Harry (Janie), Whitman; two sisters, Doris (Charles) Frost and Betty Berry; and four grandchildren.

Deceased is a sister, Lucille Wardell.

He was the former owner of Grier's Garage in Wyandotte, Mich. Before he worked in the automotive repair business, he was employed at the Wyandotte Chemical Co. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army achieving the rank of Sgt. 1st Class. He served in combat during the Korean War. He was a member of the Michigan Treasure Hunters, Livonia, Mich.

Services were June 19, 2009, at the R. J. Nixon Funeral Home, Wyandotte. Burial was at Tyler Cemetery, Van Buren Township.