Ortonville-Alferd A. Bernor had a full life.
A war veteran, firefighter, police officer, father and husband–resident Bernor will be remembered for a long list of community duties, associations and as a father of five.
Bernor, 84, died Dec. 5, 2006.
‘I remember when dad was a cop in Ortonville and went to my school dances and patrolled at all the home football games,? said Bonita Bernor, daughter of Alfeed, who graduated Brandon High School in 1967.
‘Dad was a cop for a lot of years right here in town.?
Bernor, a Navy veteran of World War II, retired from General Motors in 1987 after 43 years of service. He was a life member of the Ortonville VFW, a former member of the Brandon Fire Department, the Ortonville Police Department, and the Pontiac Police Auxiliary. He was also a Past Worshipful Master of the Ortonville Masonic Lodge, Past Worthy Patron of the Ortonville Eastern Star and a member of the Elf Khurafeh Temple Shrine.
According to newspaper reports in 1965, as a Volunteer Brandon Firefighter, Bernor was on his way to work in Pontiac at about 5 a.m. when he noticed a fire at a home in the 4000 block of Grange Hall Road. Bernor entered the burning home of 82-year-old Edward Young, and found the man in the bathroom. Bernor, carried the man out the back door and to safety. Young was taken to Wheelock Memorial Hospital where he was treated.
Alferd Bernor married Verna at the Bay City Church of the Nazarene in 1941. They were married for 65 years.
‘We never went to bed mad, that’s how we stayed married so long,? said Verna. ‘Al and I enjoyed the neighborhood–it’s been a good place to live and raise a family. We raised five girls in this community.?
Alferd Bernor is the father of Vera Piper of Lake Orion, Addie (Howard) Cameron of Texas, Nancy Ballard of Florida, Bonita Bernor of Davison and Delia (Keith) Bauer of Davison; brother of Glen (Rena) Bernor and Nelson (Violet) Bernor, both of Florida; also survived by many grand, great grand, and great great grandchildren.
Funeral services were set for noon Friday, Dec. 8 at the Lake Louise Church of the Nazarene, 2300 S. Ortonville Road, Ortonville, Pastor David Gerber officiating. Bernor will lie in state at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of the service Dec. 8. Arrangements entrusted to the Sherman Wilk Funeral Home, 135 South St., Ortonville. Online guestbook: www.shermanwilkfuneralhome.com.