Denis L. Royston

Denis Litchfield Royston B 11-24-25 D 7-7-2020 Denis was born to Frank and Dorothy Lydia (Hughes) Royston in Leytonstone, England on November 24, 1925. Dorothy died in 1932 and Frank later married Ivy, the mother of Denis’ stepsister Margaret (Hugh Watson). Denis and Margaret were seavacuated during WWII from England to Canada in 1939. Their parents and Denis’ older brother Ken (Gwen, Edna) remained in England. Denis was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Airforce from 1944 to 1949 while he attended the University of Toronto to pursue aeronautical engineering. Denis married Gladys Shirley (Munshaw) in 1953 and they relocated to England. Their son Trevor (Sandy) was born in England. They moved back to Canada and daughter Cathy (Scott Shapero) was born. In 1959 the family moved to Michigan for engineering work. Denis worked for Vickers and the subsequent companies that bought it for 32 years. After Shirley died in 2000 Denis had a long relationship with Jean Shapero until her death in 2017. Denis enjoyed golf and fishing. He loved listening to baseball and opera on his transistor radio and later through his “Alexa”. In his later years he traveled throughout North and South America and Europe sightseeing and fishing. He was active throughout his life and was always eager to go on any outing or trip when asked. The last two years of his life he lived at the senior community of Waltonwoods in Novi, Michigan where he made close friendships with people there. Denis was an active member of the Birmingham, Michigan Toastmaster Club from 1961 until 2019. He held a variety of positions throughout the years in the club and brought Jean and Neil Shapero in as well. Denis is survived by his sister Margaret (Hugh) Watson, children Trevor (Sandy) Royston and Cathy (Scott) Shapero, grand children Erik and Kelly Royston, Neil (Meghan) Shapero and Kristen Shapero (Mike Bautista), and great-grandchildren Penelope and Isaak Royston, brother-in-law Blair Munshaw (Sandra Manning) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Denis passed away after a short illness. He had been away with family in March and May and was able to be with Cathy & Trevor when he passed peacefully on July 7, 2020. A private internment will be held for immediate family due to Covid-19. Donations in honor of Denis may be made to Game On Cancer at Henry Ford Cancer Center, West Bloomfield, Michigan. Denis and Jean had been involved in fundraising initiatives for supporting families of people with cancer for many years and they were proud of the work being done there. A Team has been named in Denis’ honor for this year’s drive. http://hfordh.convio.net/site/TR/Events/GameOnCancer?team_id=2604&pg=team&fr_id=1120

Denis L. Royston

November 24, 1925 - July 7, 2020