ANN ARBOR, MI ― Helen Deal, wife of "carwash legend" Herm Deal passed away on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, at the age of 89.
As profiled in the November 2001 issue of Professional Carwashing & Detailing, Herm brought such things as deicing systems, radiant floor heat and weep heating to the carwashing industry. He also helped to identify applications for recycled water and reverse osmosis. He was also the founder of Huron Valley of Belleville, MI.
Herm stated in the 2001 article, "I started in the carwash industry by discovering there wasn’t a professional heating or water heating company in the industry. A Robo distributor in Michigan liked our approach and the equipment we were selling and pushed us to start looking at this industry. We were able to convince our suppliers to give us the North American territory on an exclusive basis to see if there was indeed a market. We called on all the carwash manufacturers in the US
and were fortunate enough to get most of them to use our equipment."
He also was involved with the International Carwash Association® as a liaison with the auto manufacturers. He described it as one of his most challenging endeavors. "It is important that cars be designed so they can be easily washed and go through a wash without damage to the vehicle. The auto industry is much more willing to share future designs with the committee and this has led to a more successful communication within the two industries."
Married for 62 years, Herm and Helen had eight children together and lived in Ann Arbor. During World War II, Helen worked at the bomber plant at Willow Run, the obituary stated, and it was there that she met Herm, who was there to train on the B-24.
From the staff at PC&D, we extend our sincerest condolences to Herm and his family.
To read the entire obituary and to extend your condolences, click here.
