Fondly Remembered 1990-2019

Chartered Members

Past Presidents

Norman Carter

Frank Smith

Bob Smith

Fred Downing

Art Harrison

Wyatt Gamble

Mason Brownscombe

Angus Mowat

Michael DeBeer

Joe Fohkens

Family Probus Members

Bob Douglas

Albert Hargraves

Glen Kitchen

Bill Budd

Russell McDonald



Obituary

Fred Downing

FYI ... there will be no service or memorial at Fred's request

Fred joined PROBUS in May 1993 ... here is some of his many contributions to the club

Who Am I? Oct 1993 as well as three other slices of his life ...   Jan 2003,  Stamp Collecting

 Jul 2007,  Winnipeg Mint

 Oct 2013, On Being an Entrepreneur

Fred served as Treasurer from 1993 thru 1995

President 1995-96, as a step up from Vice President when the President Fred Downing died during his term of office: note the President following Fred, Art Harrison also died during his term of office ... got so nobody wanted that job!

Then Membership Chair from 1997 thru to 2009 and during part of the same time period he was by himself arranging Special Events as Special Events Chair from 2001 thru 2006 ... while Special Events Chair we had trips to Stratford Festival, our May breakfasts and entertainment at our summer picnics such as Kylie Joe Masson, Ted Comiskey and Jim Gonder and the Groulxs as Membership Chair, Fred was famous for smuggling cookies and wafer biscuits into the Quality Inn for our coffee breaks until he got caught and the hotel stopped it unless we bought the cookies from them ...boo!



Obituary:

COMMANDER (Retd.) DAVID J. B. STOCK, CStJ, CD, QC David James Balkwill Stock

Died suddenly in Woodstock, Ontario on March 29, 2019. He was 82. 

He is survived by his wife, Gloria; and four children. David Stock QC was born in Timmins, and then moved as a young child to Hillstead Farm near Tavistock where he grew up. 

David lived at RR 6 Woodstock until recently, continuing the farm operations until 2017, and proudly serving the people of, and contributing to the growth and development of Tavistock, Woodstock and Oxford County. He also spent many happy summers in Port Burwell, on the shore of Lake Erie.

David attended the University of Guelph where he earned a degree in Agricultural Science in 1959, eventually obtaining a Professional Agrologist designation. He then attended law school at Osgoode Hall in Toronto, earning an LL.B. (JD) in 1962. David practiced law in Woodstock and Oxford County for many years, having served as President of the Oxford County Law Association and having been designated Queen's Counsel (QC). David enrolled in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve in 1955 as an officer cadet. In 1975, he achieved the rank of Commander. During his naval career, David served at sea in more than a dozen frigates and destroyers on both the Atlantic and the Pacific. He served in NATO operations on the North Atlantic and in Maritime Command Headquarters in Halifax. He served as Executive Officer of both HMCS STAR and HMCS PATRIOT. After 29 years of continuous service with Canada's Navy, 

  David,  in his lifetime served countless groups such as St. John Ambulance, Oxford Liberal Association, Old St. Paul's Church Woodstock, Trinity Anglican Church Port Burwell, Probus Club of Woodstock-Oxford, Royal Commonwealth Society, Tavistock Lodge No. 609 A.F. & A.M., and the Tavistock Men's Club. For his service to his community and country, David was recognized with the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal, the Canada 125 Medal, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, and Commander of the Order of St. John.


  A visitation will be held in Tavistock on Tuesday, April 2nd, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Francis Funeral Home. On Wednesday, April 3rd at 11:00 a.m., in Woodstock, there will be a funeral at Old St. Paul's Anglican Church Woodstock, preceded by a visitation at the church at 9:30 a.m. A reception will follow at the Woodstock Navy Club, 959 James Street, Woodstock.

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