June 29, 2022
David Andrew Watkins passed away peacefully in his favourite chair with his family beside him on June 13, 2022.

Dave graduated from Kemptville Agricultural College with an Advanced Mechanical diploma. He took a job at the Kingston Correctional facility as a groundskeeper. His young family lived on the penitentiary grounds in provided housing where Dave worked all day, studied, and earned an additional degree from Guelph University in Horticultural. He moved his family outside of London where he started a landscape maintenance business, Green Thumb. Along with this, he started Hyde Park Equipment, and owned a Shur-Gain feed mill and farm equipment.

Dave was a founding member of the London Chapter of Landscape Ontario eventually serving as chapter president, and later was the president of Landscape Canada.

Dave was born February 24, 1938 on the farm near Avonmore, eldest son of Glyn and Elizabeth. He had three sisters; Elizabeth, Marilyn, and Glynda, and a brother Hubert. Dave was ice skating with some friends when he met a young lady named Marlene McKenzie. This relationship blossomed into a beautiful marriage of over 60 years. From this marriage came Sandra (Tim) and Stephen (Lynn). He was very proud of them both. Dave was a grandfather of five: Meredith (Eric), Vanessa (Josh), Zachary, Christine, and Audrey. He was very proud of his grandchildren and what they have accomplished so far in their lives.

He was just shy of 60 years with the Masonic Lodge (Doric 289) and later became a Shriner. Dave fully retired in 1988 and he and Marlene moved to Bayfield. By this time, Dave had developed a deep aversion to snow — every Thanksgiving they packed up and would disappear south of the border until the following Spring. They formed many cherished friendships from their years of wintering in Texas and Arizona. When back in Canada, they enjoyed an active social life, visiting with grandchildren, and created a bird sanctuary cleverly disguised as a back yard. Wherever they hung their hats, they were active volunteers in the community. Dave was well known email comedian. The volume of funny cartoons, silly videos, and occasionally inappropriate jokes depended on his down time and tripled during the pandemic. He loved the stock market, old cars, good friends, Marlene's baking, and a quick wit.

Dave was not a fan of funeral flowers so if anyone is inclined, please donate to Shriners Hospitals for Children or St Andrews United Church in Bayfield.

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David WatkinsDavid Watkins