In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

Donald George (Don) Wallace

 

Ordinary Seaman Shipwright, RCN

 

Born: 04 Aug 1931          Died: 27 May 2023

 

WALLACE, Donald George (Don) - 91, devoted husband, father, and grandfather passed away Saturday, May 27, 2023.

 

Born August 4, 1931, Don was one of five children of George Wallace and Edith May (nee Englefield) Wallace of Lane End. He immigrated to Canada at the age of 21 with his journeyman carpenter papers. In 1953 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy in the Shipwright Division for two years with a final rank of Shipwright on the H.M.C.S. Quebec Cruiser which enabled him to travel to many different places, one of which being the Tabletop Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa which he learned about in school. Don often shared the story of how at the top of the mountain he bought a postcard and sent it to his teacher to show he was paying attention in class.

 

Don met his wife, Dorothea “Dot” Kingston (now Wallace), for the first time at a dinner arranged by friends and from that point on they started spending time together. They married on February 8, 1963 surrounded by friends on a day which experienced rain, snow, and sun. In 1965, Don and Dot had their first child, George and less than a year later they welcomed their second child, Kathleen, into the world. He worked hard to make sure they were taken care of and felt loved every day. Don was also very supportive and involved in both of his grandchildren’s lives.

 

After leaving the Royal Canadian Navy, Don started working for Roper Aluminum Products Ltd which was considered the oldest manufacturer of commercial, institutional, and domestic aluminum windows and doors in Nova Scotia. In 1976 the company was purchased from the founder by Walter K. Hughes and Donald G. Wallace creating a partnership that lasted 33 years. Mr. Hughes, President, oversaw sales and administration, and Don as Secretary-Treasurer managed manufacturing and product installation. Don enjoyed working in the window and door industry with his partner who was also a very close friend. After selling the business Don and Walter created DonWal Industries Ltd which enabled them to jointly continue a business together in property management.

 

While raising his family, Don was a breeder of Shetland Sheepdogs and with his wife and children they participated in Canadian Kennel Club sanctioned confirmation and obedience dog shows. Don was a Canadian Kennel Club all breed confirmation judge and all classes obedience and rally judge for 22 years. He was a founding member and past president of the Canadian Association of Obedience Trial Judges and member of Canada Dog Judges Association since it was established in 1997. Being a confirmation, obedience and rally judge enabled him to travel to unique locations including Australia, Columbia, and New Zealand. Don served in several different Dartmouth Kennel Club executive positions over the past 40 years and was a member of the Canadian Collie & Shetland Sheepdog Association for over 35 years.

 

Don is predeceased by his father George Wallace and his mother Edith Wallace, his sister Eileen Windsor, formerly of Toronto, Ontario, and brother John Wallace, formerly of East Chezzetcook. He is survived by his wife, Dot Wallace, children George Wallace of Tillsonburg, Ontario, and Kathleen Wooden (husband Robert) and grandchildren Patrick and Stephanie of Bedford, Nova Scotia and sisters Shirley Boag of La Palma, Canary Islands and Jean Madill (husband Doug) of Lethbridge, Alberta

 

In memory of Don and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Lung Association or Canadian Cancer Society.

 

Friends and family are invited to share happy memories and celebrate Don’s life in the way he would want to be remembered - as a loving and caring man who was dedicated to his family. Please join his family for visitation on Friday, June 9 at Atlantic Memorial Gardens, 767 Main St, Westphal, NS B2W 3T9, 3-6 pm. Interment will be at a later date. (The Atlantic Funeral Home, Dartmouth)

 

Ships served in:

HMCS QUEBEC

 

below: Article from the Nov 1954 issue of the CROWSNEST 

 


 

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