William Saxton, the second generation owner of Saxton’s Garden Center in Plymouth, passed away on June 4, 2012 at the age of 86.

Born in Hazel Park, Michigan on March 14, 1926 to Dean and Margaret Saxton, Bill graduated from Plymouth High School, where he met his future wife Valerie, in 1944. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy during World War II and went on to study business management and engineering at the University of Michigan, graduating in the late 1940’s. Bill and Valerie married in the summer of 1947.

Taking the reins from his father, Bill became the owner and operator of Saxton’s Garden Center, an 83-year-old family business in Plymouth, Michigan. A cornerstone of Plymouth’s downtown, the former Saxton’s Feed Company once served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Under Bill’s leadership, Saxton’s Feed Company transitioned from farm-supply and livestock feed to Saxton’s Garden Center as farms gave way to suburbs.

Bill is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Valerie and his children Alan, Craig and Christopher. Saxton will be remembered as a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, veteran, businessman, philanthropist, community leader and friend. Alan Saxton, third generation owner, operates Saxton’s Garden Center today.