Edward
T.
Mabley
June 16, 1924 - April 18, 2019
Resided in Michigan
Edward T. Mabley, age 94, passed away peacefully in Bloomfield Hills on April 18, 2019. Ed and his beloved wife, Dorothy recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, married on December 18, 1948. He was preceded in death by his parents, The Reverend Thomas and Clara Mabley and sister Lois Minter Mabley Horton. Ed was born on June 16, 1924 in Taylor, Texas and is survived by brother Thomas Mabley III (Geraldine Adams), daughter Anne Miller (Jim), son Ted (Elizabeth), grandchildren Raymond (Jamie), Jennifer, Cameron, Katherine and two great-grandchildren.
With Ed’s father in the Episcopal clergy, his family moved several times; Oklahoma, Kansas and settled in Terre Haute, Indiana. He left college to serve as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in World War II in the India-Burma Theater, serving on the Stillwell Road. He returned to Indiana to graduate from Rose Polytechnic Institute (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology) with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Ed was a member of Theta Xi, Kappa Chapter.
Ed began his automotive career at the Allison Division of General Motors in Indianapolis as team leader for the design of the first automatic truck transmission introduced on the 1956-model GM and Ford trucks. He moved his family to Michigan in 1965 to begin working for Ford Motor Company Truck Operations in Dearborn and eventually became the Heavy Truck Product Development Manager. Among his achievements there, he was instrumental in Ford’s first true global vehicle program, the 1986 Cargo truck. He was known through the industry as “Mr. Heavy Truck”.
Ed was a very active member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for over 30 years, serving on committees and boards until he became President (1989-1990). As President, his theme was “Vision 2000”, focusing on evolving shortage of scientists and engineers. The following year, SAE launched A World In Motion, a fast track Science, Technology, Engineering Math (STEM) program, introducing these key skills at the K-8 levels. It received many national awards and recognitions. As a post-presidential project, through Ed’s many industry contacts, SAE Brazil was restructured to become a viable entity as model for other international SAE affiliates.
Ed and Dorothy spent 30 glorious winters in Scottsdale, AZ. Between their two homes, he was active in gardening, tennis and golf. He was a member of Orchard Lake Country Club, Dearborn Racquet Club, and Paradise Valley Country Club.
Family will receive friends Wednesday, April 24 from 3-8 pm at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073, (between 13-14 Mile), (248) 549-0500.
Funeral Service will be Thursday, April 25, 10 am at Christ Church Cranbrook, 470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, (248) 644-5210.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to three charities meaningful to Ed;
• A World In Motion program through the SAE Foundation (select “A World In Motion” in the drop down designation box): https://saefoundation.thankyou4caring.org/donate
• Evans Scholars Foundation that awards full tuition and housing college scholarships to high-achieving caddies with limited financial means: https://wgaesf.org/
• Hospice of Michigan: https://www.hom.org/
With Ed’s father in the Episcopal clergy, his family moved several times; Oklahoma, Kansas and settled in Terre Haute, Indiana. He left college to serve as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in World War II in the India-Burma Theater, serving on the Stillwell Road. He returned to Indiana to graduate from Rose Polytechnic Institute (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology) with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Ed was a member of Theta Xi, Kappa Chapter.
Ed began his automotive career at the Allison Division of General Motors in Indianapolis as team leader for the design of the first automatic truck transmission introduced on the 1956-model GM and Ford trucks. He moved his family to Michigan in 1965 to begin working for Ford Motor Company Truck Operations in Dearborn and eventually became the Heavy Truck Product Development Manager. Among his achievements there, he was instrumental in Ford’s first true global vehicle program, the 1986 Cargo truck. He was known through the industry as “Mr. Heavy Truck”.
Ed was a very active member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for over 30 years, serving on committees and boards until he became President (1989-1990). As President, his theme was “Vision 2000”, focusing on evolving shortage of scientists and engineers. The following year, SAE launched A World In Motion, a fast track Science, Technology, Engineering Math (STEM) program, introducing these key skills at the K-8 levels. It received many national awards and recognitions. As a post-presidential project, through Ed’s many industry contacts, SAE Brazil was restructured to become a viable entity as model for other international SAE affiliates.
Ed and Dorothy spent 30 glorious winters in Scottsdale, AZ. Between their two homes, he was active in gardening, tennis and golf. He was a member of Orchard Lake Country Club, Dearborn Racquet Club, and Paradise Valley Country Club.
Family will receive friends Wednesday, April 24 from 3-8 pm at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073, (between 13-14 Mile), (248) 549-0500.
Funeral Service will be Thursday, April 25, 10 am at Christ Church Cranbrook, 470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, (248) 644-5210.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to three charities meaningful to Ed;
• A World In Motion program through the SAE Foundation (select “A World In Motion” in the drop down designation box): https://saefoundation.thankyou4caring.org/donate
• Evans Scholars Foundation that awards full tuition and housing college scholarships to high-achieving caddies with limited financial means: https://wgaesf.org/
• Hospice of Michigan: https://www.hom.org/
Visitation
A. J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel)
32515 Woodward Ave
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Service
Christ Church Cranbrook
470 Church Rd. (Lone Pine west of Woodward)
Bloomfield Hills, MI US 48304
Bloomfield Hills, MI US 48304
