Obituary of David Wallace Barr

David Wallace Barr (June 30, 1923 – August 10, 2018) Passed away peacefully at home in his 96th year surrounded by family. Born 1923 in La Fleche, Saskatchewan. WWII RCAF Bomber Command Veteran. Beloved husband of Grace (Fines, 2012) for 64 years. David and Grace were loving parents of Lynda (Gordon), Wallace (Karin), Nancy (Ken) & Walter (Sue) and proud foster-parents to Harold Nawash (Debbie). Beloved grandparents of 13 grandchildren & 8 great-grandchildren. Caring brother to Arlene Wilcox, the late Betty Dobson, Louise Furlong & Alfred Barr. Dave grew up in Saskatchewan during the depression. His parents were deaf and the children had to learn to speak from relatives, each other and school. Dave was 15 when he and his parents and 4 siblings moved from northern Saskatchewan to Ontario having bought 200 stony acres in Mono. When asked why they moved, Dave answered in his typical blunt style “Because we were starving.” The family survived with the help of neighbours, but prospered due to good business sense and strong work ethic, both of which Dave retained his whole life. Dave was frugal yet generous, honest and forthright. He was a good friend to many but did not suffer fools lightly. Dave and Grace bought a farm after his stint in the air force in WWII. The farm went from horse power in the beginning to one of the most progressive in the area in the next two decades. In addition, Dave found time to be a founding member of the Shelburne Legion, a Mono councillor and a 4H leader for 20 years. He had a second career owning and operating a fishing business in Mono where he and Grace made life long friends. Many will remembered him for his Remembrance Day recitations of In Flanders Fields – always recited by heart. His passions included family, homemade air plane building, bee keeping, reading, wood working, gardening and caring for the land. In later years he became a patron of Shelburne library. He continued to learn and expand his horizons through reading, working, discussing and listening right up until the end of his life. Right to the end David could not sit and be idle. He was always adept at giving instructions and among the last was ‘That he didn’t want to be surrounded by “blubbering fools”’. His family, however did “blubber” as we came to terms with losing ‘Dad”, “Grandpa”, “Great Grandpa”. All are welcome to a celebration of David’s life at the Shelburne Legion (203 William Street) Thursday August 23, 2018 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.