By Deborah Larsen
William Alban Aris
William Alban Aris was born in Pontiac, Michigan, on November 29, 1916, the son of Leslie and Rachel Kennedy Aris. The Aris family moved to Rochester when William was a teenager. His father was the proprietor of the Aris variety store in downtown Rochester. William attended Rochester High School and graduated in the class of 1936. After high school, William continued his education at Albion College, earning his degree in economics in 1940.
In May 1942, William entered the U.S. Army, serving in the Quartermaster Corps as an officer. He was stationed in New York, then transferred to the Transportation Corps in 1943. William was released from active duty in June 1946, but remained a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.
After the war, William lived in Albion, Michigan, and pursued a career as a corporate accountant. He continued his reserve duty, serving as the executive officer of the 844th Transportation Truck Company at Fort Custer and reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. William was also active in Boy Scouts, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, in retirement.
William Alban Aris died at age 72 on March 28, 1989, and was laid to rest in Middleville, Michigan.