(1921-2016) - On November 3 at the Wellington Hospice in Guelph at the age of 95 after a short illness. Don loved his family, especially his wife Peggy (nee Margaret Warner 1923-2011). They leave sons Doug (Nancy Conn) of Toronto, Gord (Kathy) of Oakville, Ken of Campbellford and Al of London. He enjoyed and was proud of ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Son of Bert and Jean (Stewart) Grant, Don was brother to Stewart (Joy, Cathie), Earl (Margaret), George (Dorothy), June Hill (Bill) and Dr. Ross (Doreen) of Kitchener, and brother-in-law to Ross Warner (Shireen) and Joan Fox (Charles).
Don was proud of his family heritage and proudly displayed his Loyalist Certificate as a descendant of George Sutherland of Glengarry. Don was raised and schooled in St. Marys. He joined the RCAF in 1940. After training he was stationed to the west coast of Canada flying anti-sub patrol. While on a leave, he married Peg on 4 Sept, 1943 in Wesley United Church, Mimico (Toronto). Don attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant before war’s end in 1945. Don and Peg returned to Avonbank to the family homestead farm which Don’s Taylor forefather had taken up from the Canada Company in 1845. They were active participants in the Avonbank community. Don became President of the Perth County Federation of Agriculture. In 1962 Don took a position with the newly formed Farm Credit Corporation (FCC). They sold the farm and moved to Campbellford, then to Woodstock in 1971 and finally to Guelph in 1977.
While in Campbellford, Don returned to his love of flying, buying a four-seater airplane. In Guelph, they took in University students, developing life-long friendships with several. He retired from the FCC in 1983 and focused on his hobbies: woodworking, gardening and later needlework. He and Peg enjoyed travelling, making good friends from places such a Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. Dad also volunteered, for twenty years for Meals on Wheels and the Red Cross. In mid-September Don fell and broke his hip. With unrecoverable complications, he entered hospice in early October.
At Don’s request, cremation has taken place. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, November 8 from 2:00 – 4:00 and also 7:00 – 8:30 pm at the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph, and a memorial service on Wednesday, November 9 at 2:00 at Harcourt United Church, 87 Dean Ave., Guelph. Interment will follow at a later time at Avonbank Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Salvation Army, Red Cross or a charity of your choice, would be appreciated.
A tree will be planted in memory of Donald R. Grant in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest, University of Guelph Arboretum. Dedication service, Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 2:30 pm.