WILSON, Claude - Passed peacefully at Westshore Village in Port Perry on Sunday, February 7, 2021.
Claude was born in Welland, Ontario in 1931. The son of the last Police Chief of the Welland Police Force, Fred Wilson.
Claude thrived in Welland of the 30’s and 40’s. He was a proud founding member of the Theta Upsilon Omega Fraternity, which was started in 1946 at Welland Vocational High School.
This group became a life-long fellowship that continues with three surviving members. In Claude’s early twenties he learned to pilot Piper Cubs, Seabees and Cessna aircraft and would fly privately for a decade.
Most importantly, Claude married his high school sweetheart, Marie (nee Button) in 1954 and they were married for 67 years.
Throughout their marriage, Claude pursued a variety of careers in automobile sales and leasing. He started his sales career with Ford and would eventually own a Ford dealership in Galt in the mid 60’s.
Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, leading up to his retirement in 1991, he held senior positions with Tilden, Hertz and retired as Vice President of Leasing at Noranda Mines in Toronto.
Claude’ s career moves would result in moving the family ten times in a twenty-five-year period, across Ontario and Quebec, before retiring in Stroud, Ontario.
In 2015 Claude and Marie moved to Port Perry to be near his son David, his wife Dawn (nee Kelly) and three of his five grandchildren.
In Port Perry, Claude was a hit with young and old alike as he recited ‘Twas a Night before Christmas’ at Christmas Eve family and friend gatherings for almost three decades.
During the past five years Claude’s biggest health challenge was living with progressive dementia.
It takes a special team to help someone live with this illness and his family want to thank the staff at Westshore, past and present, and Dr. Curtis Hadden for their care and guidance.
Claude is survived by his wife Marie, his brother Jim, his two children David (Dawn), Debra Murphy (Joe) and his five grandchildren Jennifer Rennie (Jason), Kelly Ritcey (Adam), Lindsay Wilson (Bryan), Jessica Wilson (Cody) and Kaitlin Wilson as well as his seven great-grandchildren, Cole, Quinn, Everett, Emily, Olivia, Adeline, and Wren.
Arrangements entrusted with THORNTON FUNERAL CENTRE , 1200 Thornton Road North, Oshawa, ON L1J 0C9, Tel 905-579-6787.
Claude, Pilot YZP-2991, May you always have clear skies and safe landings.
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