BALLANTYNE, William "Wee Wullie" - (1930 - 2019) -

William Ballantyne, age 88, passed away in the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital on February 25th, 2019, after several visits back and forth between his Tiny Beaches home and the hospital over the past year.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 26th, 1930, Bill began working at 14 when his mom dragged him by his ear to the Albion Motors company for a job; the beginning of his mechanical engineering training.

William spent his 2 years mandatory military service in the 15th Scottish Airborne Unit and told stories of jumping out of aircraft and free time spent at the dance clubs.

After friends from work moved to Canada, he decided to make the trek himself on June 4th 1954 at age 23.

He found work as a mechanic working for private garages when he met his first wife, Louise (Long) whom he married in 1959. Since he had spent time as a volunteer medic while in Scotland, he was able to deliver his second son during one of the worst snow storms that year.

He received his Canadian citizenship on February 5, 1969. His career path included working for Coca-Cola before his mechanical engineering abilities led to a job at Air Canada (1968) fixing whatever they put his way.

In 1978, he began a relationship with his second wife, Evelyn until her passing in June of 2014.

He is survived and will be missed by his wife, Marilyn (Lico), who has been his companion for the last 4 years; his brother Andrew and wife, Ellen, his four children: William, Phillip, Craig, and Katrina; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren (with 4 on the way); and 3 stepchildren: Catherine, Heather, and Bradley; and their families.

We will miss our "Wee Wullie Ballantyne" who "came down the Clyde in a banana peel."

DurhamObituaries.com