Walter Milbury

Walter Richard Edward Milbury, 90, of Gravenhurst, Ontario, passed away in his sleep at Castle Peak Retirement Residence, Bracebrige, Ontario, on 27 Aug 2022.

Born on 23 Mar 1932 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Walter was predeceased by his parents Wilfred Milbury Wine Harbor, NS) and Violet Stennett (Milbury-McDonald) (England.)   He married Constance (Connie) Rae Provost in Kirkland Lake in 1953 and they enjoyed that marriage union until her death on 09 Jan 2009.

He was predeceased by his sister, Ruby McPhee and by his brother Stan Milbury.  He is survived by his sister Barbara Mazzacato.

Fondly known as “Wally,” he is survived by his three daughters – Kim Baadsvik of Gravenhurst, Ontario: Leslie Milbury of Kingston, Ontario and Dawn White of Pembroke, Ontario, as well as his grandson Brian Sprunt of L’Orignal, Ontario, his granddaughter Rae Crawford of Surrey, British Columbia, and great-grandchildren Emma and Abby.

Walter was very proud of his roots in the north. He left the north as a teenager for Hamilton, hoping to advance his career as a hockey goalie.  When that door closed, he returned to the north, married and moved back south to Bracebridge and eventually Gravenhurst with his wife Connie.

He had a strong work ethic where his working days were long hours behind the wheel of transport trucks, crisscrossing Canada and parts of the United States. This took him away from his family, causing him to miss two of the three births of his daughters.  Yet he never complained.

Until it became too regulated and too expensive, Walter loved snowmobiling.  Once the proud owner of three snowmobiles enabling the whole family to go out together, he would be out there in the snowiest, coldest weather ever, wondering why no one else was out running the trails.

He was a Mr. Fix-It with a perfectionist attitude, always looking for ways to modify or improve items for Connie and/or himself as they aged.

Perhaps his greatest joy was having a good old chinwag.  Walter loved to talk to anyone, anywhere.  If they happened to be from the north, well figure on at least an hour before they could get away.  He could talk your ear off and then some.

Interment has taken place at Mickle Memorial Cemetery, Gravenhurst, Ontario.  Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association.