Funeral service for
David Duncan Gunton, 90, of 97 Kent Street North, Simcoe, who died
Saturday at Westminster Hospital in London, will be held Wednesday, and
2 p.m. at First Baptist Church.
A private family service will be
held at 1.30 p.m. at the Baldock Funeral Home. An IOOF service will be
held Tuesday at 830 p.m., by members of Lodge No. 181 at the funeral
home. Rev. H. R. Cowie will officiate at the service with interment in
Oakwood Cemetery.
He was born in Woodhouse
Township, the son of late John Gunton and the former Eliza Jarvis. He
was educated in Simcoe and in 1906 married the former Margaret Emma
Church, who survives.
Prior to World War I he as a
member of the 39th Regiment here and served overseas during World War I
with the 58th Battalion of Brantford. During his service overseas he
held the rank of captain and served in France and Belgium and in 1917
was mentioned in dispatches by Sir Douglas Haig, British General in
charge of the Canadian Army.
Following World War I, he
returned to Canada and took command of a company in the 9th Regiment. He
also served as Officer Commanding for a period of three years with the
Norfolk Regiment of Canada RCA following the outbreak of World War 2.
During his years of military service he received numerous awards,
including the General Service, Victory and Long Service medals and the
Officers' Voluntary Decoration.
He
was a member of the Simcoe Fire Department for a total of 53 years and
served as fire chief for 15 years. He was a member of Simcoe town
council for four years and also served as a member of the Board of
Education. He also held many other civic positions and was a Past Noble
Grand of I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 161 and was a recipient of a 60-year jewel.
He was also a past member of the Simcoe Kinsmen Club and the Simcoe
Rotary Club.
He was a member of Simcoe First
Baptist Church.
Surviving
besides his wife are two daughters, Mrs. J. E. (Ellen) Smith of
California; Mrs.J. R. (Mary) Hoover of Simcoe, and one sisters, Mrs.
Ruth Schafer of Buffalo, N.Y. There are 11 grandchildren and 29
great-grandchildren surviving. One son, Harry, died in 1936.
[Also
see: Gunton-Church wedding anniversary]
