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William George Gilbert Dow

January 26, 2012

Lovingly cared for by his family, Bill died peacefully at home on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 in his 85th year. Beloved husband of Mary Elizabeth (Tummonds) of 61 years. Loving father of Rebecca Clark (Stephen), Sue Latta (Don), Martha Dow, Heather Dow (John Meulendyks) and his late son Jimmie (1955). Grandpa will be sadly missed by Miranda, Nathan, Tyler, Adam (Jennifer), Hannah, Will, Avery, Nolan, Ethan and great-grandchildren Chase, Blake and Emily. Lovingly remembered by his brother Ron Dow (Linda). Bill will be fondly remembered as a kind and caring gentleman by all who knew him: many relatives, friends, fellow LTC employees and the congregation at Dundas Street Centre United Church.  His neighbours will miss the “Mayor of Thornton Avenue.” Visitation on Monday from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, where the funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Cremation with a private family interment at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Donations may be made to the London Health Sciences Foundation – Cancer Centre or Dundas Street Centre United Church.

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Heather, Johnny, Nolan, & Ethan, We are very sorry to hear of the loss of your wonderful Dad and Grandpa. We are keeping your entire family in our thoughts and prayers during this terribly difficult time in your lives. Take care of each other!!!! We will talk to you soon. The Clifford's Cliffy, Julie, Ryan and Abbey

~ Richard & Julie Clifford & Family

(Donated to London Health Sciences Foundation - Cancer Centre )

~ Michele and Mike Specht

Dear Aunt Mary, So many memories! The one I remember best, we were very young and had found the perfect Secret Garden in the back of the yard on Langarth St. We crawled beneath the thick and bushy branches of the shrub where we were well hidden from prying adult eyes and able to dream the afternoon away. Oh! And dream we did! And giggled and laughed and just enjoyed being little girls on a warm summer afternoon. But evening approached and so did the angry mommy and daddy bluejays whose nest we had come very close to. Our daddies came to the rescue. Just as daddies always do. But Uncle Bill had a shiny, glowing spot on the top of his head that drew the angry dive-bombing parents away from our tender developing heads and he took these painful jabs from very very angry beaks until thick quilts could be thrown over his shining dome. Big men with huge quilts brought each of us, one by one safely to the house while the blue jays circled, screaming their frustration and anger. A little girl feels safe and she grows up to a become a woman that feels safe. My heart and prayers are with you. Love always, Karen

~ Karen Ardy

Dear Mary and family: We are so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. Sincerely, Laurie

~ Betty and Laurie Russell

Dear Mary, and family: I was so sorry to hear of Bill's death. I well remember when we lived on the next street from your family. As an adult, years later, I enjoyed seeing you and Bill at Dundas Centre whenever I returned to London. May God give you strength and comfort. Sincerely, Catherine

~ Catherine Kirk

DEAR MARY AND FAMILY; I heard today of your loss. My memories of Bill "Our Mayor" will always bring a smile and a calmness to my heart. Yes, Bill was a special person and I feel honoured to have known him, to have had the pleasure of living those years as his neighbour. The friendly pop-overs, the talks, the chit- chats and the updates of his beloved family. I will cherish my memories of him as a great neighbour. Bill was a good husband, father, grandfather. Bill was a Great Man! My thoughts and sympathies are with you and your family today. Sincerely, JoAnne #81.

~ Jo Anne, # 81

Becky and Steve - our deepest sympathy to you and your family at Bill's passing. Sandy remembers Bill as a very nice and friendly man from her time at Dundas United. Our thoughts are with you.

~ Brian & Sandy McDougall

My deepest sympathy to Mrs. Dow, Martha and the entire Dow family. I had the priviledge to meet Mr. Dow on his trips to Abbotsford. I will never forget his attempt to mimic the happy dance while playing cards and his strong influence on his favorite hockey team. My thoughts are with you at this time.

~ Fran Raby

Mr. Dow is the most kind and gentle man I have ever met. Always a smile and a kind word - and also our most enthusiastic hockey fan! I have many fond memories of younger hockey days (ELOH and Rebel hockey). Thank you!! Thank you for the gentle yet strong influence you have had in our lives. My sincere sympathy to Martha, Mrs. Dow and the Dow family. Donna My parents (Norm and Dorothy) send their sincere condolences to all of the Dow family.

~ Donna Bray

Mr. Dow: Thank you for all those rides to hockey in that big black boat you loved so much and for picking me up on my way to school in the "out of service" bus that always seemed to be travelling down Wavell Street. Thank you for renting a car to take us to Brampton at Easter when you realized that the boat was not going to make it there. Thank you for not getting us killed when you backed the rental down the off ramp back onto the 401 once you realized that you took the wrong exit. Most of all, thank you for caring and making each and everyone of us feel special. Somehow you made us all better people. I will miss you. To Martha and the Dow family, I am truly sorry for your loss. Lorraine

~ Lorraine Andersen

Dear Heather, I heard of the loss of your Father. I have been thinking of you and your family in this time of sadness and extend my condolences with deepest sympathy. My sincere thoughts and prayers are with you. Angela

~ Angela Aarts & Kenneth Faris

My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family at this sad, sad time. Uncle Bill rests in peace now free from any pain and suffering. I will miss his laughter at Mom and Dad's kitchen table while playing euchre after dinner. Thinking of you all at this time. Love Sandi

~ Sandi McKaig

Dearest Mary and Family, There are no words for your loss - our learts ache for you. We pray that the sadness will soon fade into warm and happy memories of the gentle man and gentleman Bill was and the outstanding caring and good humoured person he was. Although we cannot be with you in person, we are there with you in spirit and we send our sincere and loving sympathy to you, Mary, and to your family. In Bill's words, love you. Gwen and Paul

~ Gwen and Paul

Mary , Our thoughts are with you today and always . Randy and I were just chatting about how we would miss hearing you calling Bill from the back deck as he was tending to the pool ... I can still hear the two of you chatting when I close my eyes. As I would work in my garden I would hear the softest kindest voice from the other side of the bushes ... "is that you there Heather ?" .... "Yes", I would reply and we would have a little chat..... I will always remember Bill as being a Wondeful Gentleman. He never had a harsh word to say and always had a knd smile for whom ever he was talking to no matter how he was feeling. Mr. Dow will also be missed by Michael and Thomas . You are in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless, Heather, Randy. Michael & Thomas

~ Heather and Randy Trineer

My deepest sympathy to you all. I remember Mr Dow as a wonderful loving father and husband. I treasure the childhood memories I have with the Dow family. My thoughts are with you all.

~ Mary Ambrose Love

Dear Mary, So sorry to hear about your loss of Bill. 61 years is a long time to be together and I remember very well when it started. Bill and I seldom met after high school except when visiting our mothers at Grandwood Nursing Home. Doreen and I have been living in Kelowna BC for ten years now but keep in touch with London news via the London Free Press online. God bless you Peter Somerville

~ Peter Somerville

My deepest sympathies to you Mary and your family. Bill was a friend and colleague and I have fond memories of our times together. I am sorry I will be unable to attend funeral service as I am in Florida but my thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless. Jim

~ Jim Pargeter

I was so sad to hear about "Mr. Dow's" illness and death. (I still cannot really bring myself to call Bill and Mary anything but Mr. and Mrs. Dow...!) He was such a kind and gentle person, and I will always remember him with enormous fondness. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

~ Karen Eck

My deepest sympathies to all the members of the Dow family. What wonderful memories you will be able to share about your husband, father and grandfather. I knew him mostly from the loving stories I heard from family, however the times I did meet him, he was happy and smiling and always such a gentleman. He has a special place in everyone's heart and will live on through the wisdom and the lessons that he taught everyone! Remember the laughter and the good times. Thinking of you....

~ Kathy Newnes

I was so sorry , Mary to hear of Bill's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Love, Audrey.

~ Audrey Knight

Aunt Mary, Becky, Sue, Martha and Heather. My sympathy's, thoughts and prayers are with you and your families at this time. Uncle Bill was a soft and gentle soul, who will be missed by all the people he kindly touched throughout his life. I have nothing but fond memories of Uncle Bill, his warm smile when he greeted you followed by the gentle touch of his hand on my left arm. That little touch that always said I care. We are told to try not to leave a footprint, or to leave the smallest of footprints on this earth, this is a man who left a huge imprint in the hearts of those who knew him. Love Kathy

~ Katherine Ardy

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London Health Sciences Foundation – Cancer Centre

Dundas Street Centre United Church

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