WILSON, Ronald David

Ron Wilson died peacefully at the Amica Little Lake in Barrie on September 30, 2023, seven weeks shy of his 90th birthday. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, his children Paul Wilson (Andrea Parker), Kerry Wilson (Paul Hetherington), Laura Wilson-Kelly (Brett Kelly), and his grandchildren Rowena, Ciara, Shane, Grant, Stephanie and Sarah.

Ron grew up on Frater Ave. in Toronto along with his younger sister Joan and brother Don. He attended Toronto Normal School to go into teaching and met Marilyn Rutherford at summer school. They married in 1955 and he worked for the North York Board of Education starting out as a teacher, then vice principal and principal. They moved to 46 Netherford Road in Maple where Paul, Kerry and Laura were born, and where Ron was very active in his community as a volunteer leader with the cubs/scouts, Hockey Association, and the community group that fought against Canada’s Wonderland. He was actively involved in the raising of his kids, being silly, offering talks about life, and being supportive no matter what they did. After he retired in 1988, they moved to Medonte where he was part of the Probus Club and Naturalist Society.

Ron built their cottage - his legacy - on Drag Lake where he would enjoy his children, nature and indulge his love of hospitality during the warm weather. Always welcoming, he was reluctant to talk about himself, but instead wanted to hear what you were doing. He cared for the lake itself, creating many stories about the “Drag Lake Dragon” for his grandkids, and was Lake Steward for the Property Owners Association after he retired.

Ron was a big personality, living and loving life to the fullest. Active in canoe tripping, hiking, curling, cross country and downhill skiing, bird watching, and vegetable gardening, he loved the outdoors, often enjoying it with a quote from a poem. He was passionate about education, inspiring and mentoring numerous teachers and staff, many of whom became good friends. He believed in excellence and set the bar high - a true leader. He was also full of quirky sayings, and loved jokes and storytelling with family and friends after dinner. Ron had a thoughtful, quiet, deep side too, reading about and debating politics, loving poetry and words generally, doing daily crosswords, and reading voraciously - especially Canadian history. He was generous, kind, loving, intelligent, honourable, gregarious, well read, a loving son, husband, father, and grandfather - a true gentleman. He will be greatly missed.

The Wilson Family are grateful to the PSW’s and nurses at the Amica for their loving care in his final months. If you would like to attend Ron's Celebration of Life on Sunday November 5, 2023, please email Kerry Wilson for further details at [email protected]
Donations in Ron’s memory may be made to the Drag and Spruce Lakes Property Owners Association to fight the invasive Eurasian Milfoil in Drag Lake (by e transfer to [email protected] or cheques can be sent to PO. Box 603, Haliburton, ON, K0M 1S0. Please put in the memo line that your donation is in memory of Ron Wilson to fight the Eurasian Milfoil.)be sent to PO. Box 603, Haliburton, ON, K0M 1S0. Please put in the memo line that your donation is in memory of Ron Wilson to fight the Eurasian Milfoil.)