Herbert Smith Guy, Jr., 87, of Grand Haven, Mich., formerly of Vero Beach, passed away on Jan. 13, 2015, following a prolonged struggle with Merkel cell carcinoma.
He is survived by his wife Ginny; his children: Martha and John Gork of Grand Haven and Bill and Cheri Guy of Severna Park; grandchildren: Katie Parks, and Maddie, Jake, and Luke Guy; step-grandson James Gork; and brother Thomas (Gwen) Guy of Vero Beach.
He was born Oct. 3, 1927, in Vero Beach, to Herbert and Ethel (Beindorf) Guy. He attended Vero Beach Public Schools where he was valedictorian of the Class of 1945. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Florida, and he received a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.
After college, Guy went to work for what later became the National Security Agency. His service at N.S.A. was interrupted by a five-year tour of active duty as a lieutenant in the United States Air Force Security Service, during which he was stationed at N.S.A. and at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.
In 1961, Guy was married to Virginia “Ginny” Bender, a native of Grand Rapids, Mich. He and Ginny moved to Severna Park, Md., where they lived until moving to Michigan in 1990, first to Spring Lake and then to Grand Haven. Following his retirement from N.S.A. in 1983, Guy taught mathematics for six years at Severna Park High School, retiring in 1989. After moving to Michigan, he taught on the adjunct faculty of Muskegon Community College from which he retired in 2001.
He was an active member of the Episcopal Church, having served on the vestry and as senior warden of parishes in both Severna Park and Grand Haven. He also served on diocesan commissions in both locations.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 524 Washington St. Grand Haven. Friends may meet the family from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 at VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home in Grand Haven and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at St. John’s. Interment will take place at a later date. The family suggests memorial contribution to the Idema Outreach Fund at St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Bichakjian Merkel Cell Research Fund at the University of Michigan, or Hospice of North Ottawa Community. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.vbkfuneralhome.com. The family is being served by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home of Grand Haven.
