May 13, 1936 - March 30, 2021
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Don Stoddart, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He passed away in Nanaimo on March 30th in his 85th year.
Don was born in Markdale, Ontario on May 13, 1936 to Elmer and Dorothy Stoddart, the oldest of three children. He is survived by his brother Jack and sister Anna.
He grew up on a farm and had fond memories of the simpler times that he enjoyed while growing up. He attended a local one room schoolhouse prior to attending high school in Markdale.
Upon graduation, Don embarked on a working adventure travelling out west working on farms along the way. He began working for Bell Telephone in 1955 and met his future bride, Edith, while he was working in Dryden, Ontario.
Edith comes from a family of 9 children and Don was a well loved member of that clan. They were married in July 1958 and had their first child, Roger, in 1959. They moved around Ontario while Don worked for Bell Telephone, including living in Barrie and Richmond Hill, where Leanne was born in 1962.
In 1966 Don decided to try his hand at something different and he and Edith purchased a motel in Chatham, Ontario, where Charlene was born. They ran the motel for four years and then made a big move to Victoria, BC where Don began working at BC Tel. He worked there for the rest of his career, which took them to various locations in BC including Nanaimo, Powell River and New Westminster.
Don was such a thoughtful, practical, kind and caring person. He never had a negative word to say about anyone. Music was a real passion of Don's and not only did he play the guitar and sing, he was a song writer and poet. He wrote a lot of his own songs and he and Edith spent many happy years travelling to Yuma where he played music with friends.
He played hockey in his younger years and spent many years at the curling rink where he won a bonspiel or two. Don and Edith travelled regularly to Manitoba and Ontario to visit family and friends, and enjoyed a whirlwind 3 month backpacking trip to Europe in 1990. Don enjoyed long road trips, with stops being optional. He was a great writer and documenter, and never missed sending out the family Christmas newsletter.
Don leaves behind Edith, his wife of 62 years, their three children Roger (Fran), Leanne (Gordon) and Charlene (Michael), nine grandchildren, including Joel, Daniel, Stephanie, Riley, Kyle, Cody, Amanda, Carissa and Allison and seven great grandchildren.
Don will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know him. As a family, we are eternally grateful for Don's love, support and gentle nature. We hope you are strumming your guitar in heaven.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC in memory of Don. Special thanks goes to the emergency and hospital personnel who took such great care of him.