William George, QC, born May 11, 1940 son of Rita and Glen Phelps in Orillia Ontario, passed away on September 20, 2021.
After a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, Bill enjoyed time with family and friends this summer. He was predeceased by June (Shaw), his wife and partner of 57 years. June passed away last summer and there was not a day that Bill did not continue to profess his love for her.
Together with June, they raised three wonderful children, Stephanie Phelps (Toronto), Debbie Ford (Denver) and Glen Phelps (Calgary), and then embraced their spouses, Paul Ford and Julia Phelps. “Grandpa” shared long cottage meals outside, waterskiing, canoeing, frisbee, and downhill skiing with his grandchildren, Alexandra and Michael Ford and Benjamin and Maggie Phelps.
After high school in Orillia, Bill graduated from the University of Michigan in 1962 and travelled representing his fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, for a year. He drove his convertible through the snow and squeezed in skiing at a lot of hills across the northern USA.
Bill married June on July 6, 1963 and established their home in Toronto. He completed law school at the University of Toronto and was called to the Bar in 1968. At Mathews Dinsdale, Bill’s labor relations practice and reputation with clients grew through his strategic legal mind and passion for enabling their businesses. He was granted Queen’s Counsel for Labour Relations in 1985. When not at the office or raising the family, he sat as an elder at Eglinton St. George’s United Church, and Board President at Devils Glen Ski Club.
Bill and June enjoyed their extended family and many friends in Creemore, throughout Ontario, and in Maple Leaf Estates, Florida. Like true partners, they enjoyed most activities together and spent a lot of time skiing, golfing, traveling and working away at the cottage that they built (and added to) for over 50 years. Bill felt he had mastered and enjoyed some of the most difficult skiing in North America but continued to chase the elusive perfect golf swing.
Bill was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Phelps, and is survived by his brother Ross and sister-in-law Jo-ann Phelps, Sister-in-law Isabell Phelps and sister Mary Girard and partner Frank Allison. He will be missed by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Martin and Tony Shaw and Gerald and Barbara Shaw.
A family funeral and interment is being held in Orillia on September 24th. The family hopes to hold a celebration of Bill and June’s eternal love next summer.
Thank you Dad, for all of your love and support. You were the greatest Dad ever and we will keep you in our hearts forever.
Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to Collingwood Marine and General Hospital, Collingwood, Ontario at cgmhf.com or can be made through the Mundell Funeral Home (705)325-2231. Messages of condolence welcomed at www.mundellfuneralhome.com.