J. Robert MINGAY

MINGAY, J. Donald Lt. Col (Retired) DSO, MBF. Passed away peacefully on July 27, 2004 at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital in his 90th year. Don served as an officer of the Essex Scottish Regiment, Windsor, Ontario prior to and during the Second World War and landed in France on D Day, June 6, 1944 as Senior Staff Office of the Third Canadian Infantry Division. After the war, he was active in the life insurance business with Prudential of England and was President of the United Way of Metropolitan Toronto. He was President of Consumers Glass Co. Ltd. and a director of a number of Canadian and U.S. Companies. Predeceased by loving wife of 62 years, Mary (McGregor) and brothers Jim and Ross Mingay of Windsor, survived by children John (Jill) of West Vancouver, Jill (Philip Stevenson) of Creemore, Esther (Robin Wearing) of Montreal, and Robert of North Vancouver and seven granddaughters Sandy and Tricia Stevenson (Stephane Chamberland), Alison Wearing, Cindy and Laura Mingay and Georgia and Aja Mingay. Predeceased by one grandson (David Mingay) and survived by grandson "Big" Ben Wearing and great-grandson "Little" Benjamin Chamberland. Also survived by brother Arthur of Toronto, three sisters, Marion (Jan McKenzie), Peggy (Bud Hamilton) of Windsor and Catherine (Arnold Fox) of Brampton and brother-in-law Lt. Col (Retired) Walter I. McGregor of Windsor. After retirement, Don and Mary moved to Creemore where he operated a tree nursery, kept bees, cut and sold firewood and reforested his 215 acre farm with 130 thousand trees. He was a founding member of Creemore Springs Brewery, Don and Mary donated 200 acres to the Nature Conservancy before moving to Collingwood. Donations in his memory to the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital or the Nature Conservancy. A Memorial Service will be held at St. John's United Church, 192 Mill St. Creemore on Friday, July 30 at 2 p.m. to be followed by a reception at the Station on the Cross in Creemore. Arrangements entrusted to Fawcett Funeral Homes "Collingwood Chapel" 705-445-2651. Friends may leave comments for family by visiting www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com Published in the Windsor Star on 7/29/2004.