George Wood

George grew up in the country and went to a one-room schoolhouse near Beeton, Ontario. He later attended Alliston High School, with summer jobs working outdoors for Canada Pacific Railroad. He attended Ryerson College, graduating 3 years later as a Chemical Technologist. Following graduation, he worked for 37 years for the Ontario government, first with the Department of Health and later for the Ministry of the Environment.

During this time he met and married his wife, Rita Ross, and was happily married for 40 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters Sylvia & Wendy and 3 wonderful grandchildren Cade, Hartford and Noel (Parents; Wendy and Robby McClung). They have another grandchild on the way (Parents: Sylvia & Kevin Braun). Life was good.

When their daughters were in their early teens they enjoyed family road trips to BC, Newfoundland, Los Angeles and of course Florida. When their children were older, in their 20’s and more independent, George and Rita continued camping trips to many parts of the USA and Canada. They also enjoyed numerous Carnival Cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska. Matecumbe Resort, their timeshare in the Florida Keys, was a favorite destination from 1981 on.

George retired from the Ontario government at the age of 60, picking up a part-time job as an Avis Shutler. He had many hobbies that his retirement allowed more time to enjoy - hiking, canoeing, camping, reading, photography, astronomy, and of course the cottage, to name a few. He loved nature and was an encyclopedia of information about birds, insects, the stars, reptiles, amphibians, plants, etc. He was always researching a new and better technical toy- a stereo system, binoculars, camera, telescope, etc. One of his favorite pastimes was listening to his varied musical recordings of Classical to Jazz Music, including Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, and Stomping Tom Collins to name a few. He sat in his special room with his latest earphones turned up full blast enjoying his music. He was constantly adjusting his equipment, striving for perfection. We made sure he received his dream 60 “ TV a week before Father’s Day, which he was thrilled to receive.

He will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his wife Rita, his daughters Wendy and Sylvia, their spouses and children, also his brother Cameron, his wife Nancy and their family who have always been very supportive and greatly admired by George.