David Lee Raleigh Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

David Raleigh of Saline, Michigan died on June 6, 2021 at age 81 in Ann Arbor, Michigan due to complications of dementia and heart disease. His wife of 42 years, Carolyn Raleigh, was at his side. David grew up in Lincoln Park, Michigan, the son of Donald and Elma Raleigh. David graduated from Lincoln Park High School and entered the Air Force. He served four years with the 801st Radar Squadron in northern Alaska and Montana from 1958 – 1962. His Air Force training led him into a long career in electronics and computers. One of his proudest projects was with NASA, where he developed equipment to monitor atmospheric conditions to assure safe launch of spacecraft. His career took him to Europe on many occasions. He particularly enjoyed being assigned to a project with Olivetti Corp. developing an early desktop computer. This assignment gave him the opportunity to live in Turin, Italy for 18 months in the late 1960’s. Some of the companies he worked for included Sycor, Applied Dynamics, ISI, 3M, Ford Aerospace, and Loral. He retired from Lockheed Martin in 2005. While with Ford Aerospace he was project manager for a computer system that was installed at all Ford Motor Co. plants in North America and he traveled to every plant to oversee the installation of the system. When asked how he was doing, his classic response was “Working Hard”. That he did. Besides a professional career, David managed a small farm with steers and chickens while raising 5 kids. He found a little time for hobbies, which included ham radio, Star Trek, checking his eyelids for “holes”, tormenting wait staff with dad jokes and requests for diet Vernors. David always said, “good morning” no matter what time of day it was…maybe because he still had so much left to do each day…but more likely because he enjoyed the facial reactions. David was a faithful follower of his Lord, Jesus Christ after accepting the Lord in 1976. He served as a Bible teacher for teens and toddlers at different points in his life. He served in leadership positions in his church and has been a member of The Gideons International since 1984. He has been a member of Crossroads Community Baptist Church in Ann Arbor since 1998 and rarely missed being in church on Sunday mornings. David is survived by his wife, Carolyn and their five children: Chris (Jenny) Watkins, Jeremy (Angie) Raleigh, Ruth Anne Raleigh, Rachel Wild (Noah Darling) and Renee Ruple. David was “Grandpa“ or “Pops” to 12 grandchildren, ranging in age from 1 year to 17 years of age; Quinn, Brody, Brenna, Eleri, Macy, Aiden, Cooper, Grover, Rosalee, Annabelle, Patrick and Emory. David is also survived by his brother Bruce (Edie) Raleigh. There will be visitation at the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline on Monday, June 14, 2021 from 2:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at Crossroads Community Baptist Church, 2580 Packard Road, Ann Arbor MI. There will be visitation at the church beginning at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday until the time of the service. A luncheon at the church will immediately following the service. Graveside services with military honors will take place at 2:30 P.M. at Oakwood Cemetery in Saline. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in David's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or The Gideons International and envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church. To leave a memory you have of David, to sign his guestbook, or for directions or more information, please visit www.rbfhsaline.com.

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David Lee Raleigh

January 22, 1940 - June 6, 2021