Willard Pope Kerr, 87, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully on Feb. 20, 2015.
He is survived by two sisters, two sons, a daughter, five grandchildren, and two great- grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Beverly.
Kerr was born Nov. 30, 1927, in Detroit to Harry Watt and Mary Pope Kerr, and graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in 1945, where he served twice as Vice President of his class and was a member of the North American Championship varsity crew team.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1950 from the University of Michigan and was an active member in the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. He also graduated from the New York Stock Exchange School of Business in 1952.
Kerr was a World War II veteran; a staff sergeant who served as a cryptographic technician. After working for a number of years in advertising and the stock market in Detroit and New York, he joined the family automotive business. He served in senior management and ownership roles at Ken Brown Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge in Detroit, as well as the family’s leasing, automotive parts, warehousing and manufacturing companies. He was also a partner and general manager of the Eastpointe Racquet Club.
He was a longtime member of many clubs including Riomar Country Club and Riomar Bay Yacht Club in Vero Beach, Walloon Lake Country Club and Yacht Club in Walloon Lake. Country Club of Detroit and the Grosse Pointe Club. Kerr had a lifelong love of tennis, sailing, golf, bowling and his many golden retrievers.
A celebration of his life will take place at Community Church in Vero Beach at 1 p.m. on Monday March 23, 2015.
