Wilma Sue Auch

Sue, as she was known by family and friends, was born in St. Louis and moved to Grosse Pointe as a young child. She graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in 1950, then attended the University of Michigan. She was an art major and member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, class of 1954.

After graduation, she taught art at Center Line High School for several years. Her teaching career was short-lived. In 1956, she married the love of her life and soon changed her profession to homemaker and mother.

As years passed, her artistic interests were renewed when she took up ceramics in earnest. She spent many afternoons at Pewabic Pottery perfecting her skills and learning about techniques, glaze formulas and kilns. Eventually, she had her own booth at several local art fairs; her umbrella stands proved to be a popular item.

She also was an enthusiastic gardener when she was younger and a member of several garden clubs. She looked forward to annual garden tour trips that took the group to both public and private gardens at locales across the U.S. and Canada.

She had many varied interests and was an avid reader; she could skip the reviews, as good books were finished in a couple of days. She enjoyed traveling and time well spent with family and friends, her long-standing bridge group and participating in several organizations. Of note was her participation in the Detroit Alumnae Panhellenic Association and the Alpha Gam alumni group. She also had a key role in organizing her 50th and 60th high school class reunions.

Sue is survived by her brother, Michael; sisters, Linda and Francis; son, George W. Auch IV; many nieces and nephews; and her loving golden retriever, Abby. She was predeceased by her parents, Bernard and Wilma Martin; older sister, Patricia; and husband of nearly 63 years, George W. Auch III.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Leader Dogs for the Blind, 1309 S. Rochester Rd., Rochester Hills, MI 48307, leaderdog.org/donate, or a charity of the donor's choice.

Funeral services are pending.