Donald Ray Bivens

Donald (Don) Ray Bivens, a longtime resident of Canton, MI, passed from this life on April 26, 2021, at the age of 74. Don was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He retired from The Budd Company in 2003 after 30 years of service. Don shared the same passion for cars as his father, in particular the Ford Model A. Don was a member of the Model A Restorers Club (MARC) for 52 years. In addition to restoring cars, he also spent countless hours in the Ford Archives researching the history of these cars. He served on the MARC National Board of Directors and the Judging Standards Committee, including serving as Chairman for a time. In 1993, he was presented with the National Ken Brady Award - a lifetime achievement award for unsparingly devoting his time and service to the club. He spent years on the restoration and research on #A616 (a car that Henry Ford himself rode in). He won the Henry Ford Award in 2013 for those efforts. Additionally, he won the Roger Kaufman Award in 2016 for his original/unrestored 1929 Special Coupe. Don is survived by his sister, Joan Krueger and nephews: Erick (Pamela) Krueger and Stuart Krueger. Don was the son of the late Lester and Elizabeth Bivens. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 3:00 PM Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at the L.J. Griffin Funeral Home, 42600 Ford Road (w. of Lilley Road) in Canton, MI. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Smith East Hall with a funeral service at 2:00 PM with Rev. Greg Long officiating. Interment to follow at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the American Diabetes Association. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Donald Ray Bivens please visit our Sympathy Store.