William Seawell Michaux

1927 - 2021

MICHAUX, William Seawell, passed away peacefully at his home at Westminster Canterbury, Richmond on May 20, 2021. He finally rested after nearly 94 years of always being there for his family, friends and neighbors, whom he served with his kindness and generosity that was boundless.

Born on May 29, 1927 in Richmond to Bettie Jane Armstrong and William Woodson Michaux, Bill developed his lifelong work ethic delivering the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper as a young boy and working as an usher at the Byrd Theatre as a teenager. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, attended the Virginia Military Academy and later graduated from the University of Richmond in 1949. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and a lifelong avid Spider Club member. He enlisted in the military in 1944 during World War II when he was 17, turning 18 three weeks after the war in Europe ended. He was deployed from Fort Dix in August 1945 to Bremen, Germany, with the Army of Occupation.

He met Eileen Olive Bayley, a student at the MCV School of Nursing, on a blind date at a college football game in 1951 and proposed four months later on New Year's Eve. When she contracted tuberculosis two months later and was sequestered for a year in a sanatorium in Charlottesville, he stuck by her and gave her something to live for. They were married on June 17, 1953, in Coral Gables, Fla., and were together for 54 years, with Bill faithfully by her side again before Eileen preceded him in death in 2007. Their three sons, nine grandchildren and two great-granddaughters were always the center of their lives.

They also loved traveling, the theater and sports, taking trips including several to Europe and cruises to places like Alaska, the St. Lawrence River and Russia. A meticulous planner, Bill was also prone to spontaneous travel to attend NCAA basketball tournament games, see the Masters Tournament or visit his family.

He was an active and proud member of Manakin Episcopal Church in Powhatan County, and previously at Holy Comforter in Richmond and St. Michael's in Bon Air.

Bill spent his working life in sales and logistics. His job at Brooks Transportation briefly took him to Greensboro, N.C., before returning to Richmond with A.H. Robbins Pharmaceutical Co. He finally landed at C.E. Estes Contract Carrier and Great Coastal Express in 1963, where he worked for more than 40 years until his retirement.

Bill Michaux was always there for his family, friends and neighbors. Nothing was more important than being there for his family when they needed him and present for every important occasion – graduation, wedding, birth, bris, funeral, holiday, award ceremony, grandparent's day or beach trip. Taking care of those dearest to him was his greatest joy.

His selfless service to others continued for nearly 20 years as a resident at Westminster Canterbury, where he often drove residents to doctors' appointments or to Talbots, when he was able, and organized numerous cruises or outings to Richmond Braves games. He served on several committees and boards and was most proud of his tenure as president of the Employee Christmas Fund, tirelessly raising money to serve the nurses and staff he cared for so deeply and who provided such tender care for him and his wife in their later years.

He is survived by his three sons, Bob, his wife, Kim, their children, Katie Lainhart (Brendan), Woody, Sidney and Chip, Tommy, his wife, Pattie, their children Zachary, Bayley Dougherty (Brian) and Tyler (Hailey), Scott, his wife, Kelly Simmons, and their children, Zhenia and Olivia. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Grace and Holly Dougherty; sister, Betsy Word, her husband, Rodney; niece, Karen Bayley Ensor; and nephews, Rod Word, Rick Word and Brett Bayley.

He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved mother-in-law, Olive Marshman McGroarty, her husband, Mac; brother-in-law, William Robert Bayley; niece, Eileen Allison Bayley; and Delores "Dee" Hull, his companion later in life for 11 years.

A funeral service will be held at Manakin Episcopal Church, 985 Huguenot Trail, Midlothian on Thursday, May 27, at 10 a.m., with an interment in the memorial garden immediately following. A Celebration of Life service at Westminster Canterbury will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Westminster Canterbury Richmond Foundation or the Westminster Canterbury Employee Christmas Fund, 1600 Westbrook Avenue, Richmond, Va., 23227.