Al Luckham lived to see his 95th birthday and died just two weeks later at his home in Ann Arbor. He was the beloved husband of Helen Price Luckham (deceased) and a loving father (Mimi Möller, Cathy Mundy - deceased, Martha Luckham), grandfather, great-grandfather, brother (Elizabeth Lutton, Jane Luckham, Bob Luckham – all deceased) and uncle.
Al grew up on the northwest side of Detroit and would often recall a happy childhood of playing ball, building bunks, and learning the trumpet. He graduated from Cooley High School and was immediately inducted into the Army in August 1943. A year later he was in Europe, fighting in Germany and Belgium before being captured in January 1945. His experience in the German POW camp gave him the true grit which remained with him the rest of his life.
The GI Bill enabled Al to enroll in the University of Michigan College of Engineering in February 1946 and graduate with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1949. While working at the Michigan State Highway Lab he met Helen, the love of his life, and they were married in 1951. He worked for the California Division of Highways before returning to Michigan and the Wayne County Road Commission where he worked in the highway and airport divisions for 30 years.
Livonia was home to the Luckhams for 54 years. Al played in the community band, was on the board of several PTAs, and after retirement was a dependable meals-on-wheels delivery person. His boyhood love of building model airplanes was rekindled when he joined The Ribcrackers, an RC model airplane club. Grandchildren loved seeing what new model was under construction in his basement shop and being invited to “help” with a particular project.
A memorial to celebrate Al’s life will be held as soon as it is safe to do so. Details will be made available when date, time and place are determined. Memorial contributions may be made in Al’s name to the charity of your choice.
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