Fred Kingsmill
Peacefully, in his 91st year,
Fred passed away at home surrounded by his family. He is survived by
his beloved wife of 65 years, Clarissa « Claire »
(née Barker); son Timothy (Laurie); daughter Anne (Craig)
who provided excellent care in his final weeks; grandchildren Ryan
Knoll, Glynn Smith, and Emily Kingsmill; great-grandchildren Jayden
and Hazel; and nieces and nephews and their families. Fred is
predeceased by his father George Frederick Kingsmill, his mother Netta
May Kingsmill (née Nixon), and his sisters Netta Brandon
and Doris Hoskins.
Fred was a proud graduate of the class of
’51 at Ontario Agricultural College and he was a founding
member of the first board at the University of Guelph. He was the
President of Kingsmill’s for 33 years, having been the
fourth generation to own and operate the historic department store in
downtown London. He was a Mason with an honorary
33rd degree—the highest honour
bestowed by the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite. Fred received
numerous awards over the years, most notably the William Mercer Wilson
Medal in 1988, the Ontario Citizenship Award in 1991, the Queen
Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, and the Queen Elizabeth II
Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was inducted into the London
Business Hall of Fame in 1999. He was on the Huron College board of
directors for many years, a hard-working member of the Kiwanis Club of
London, and played a key role in the creation of University
Hospital—now London Health Sciences Centre—as a
member of the London Health Association. He further involved himself
in civic affairs through the Red Cross, the Western Fair, the Canadian
Club of London, and the Covent Garden Market, among many other
organizations.
Fred was a farmer, a businessman, a philanthropist,
and a true gentleman in every sense of the word. He was humble,
generous, soft-spoken, and selfless. He sought no recognition for his
work; he performed kind deeds quietly and often. Two of his favourite
sayings were « be of good cheer » and « do
well, doubt not. » Fred will be remembered as a good listener,
perpetually cheerful, and a truly remarkable
man.
The family wishes to thank everyone who made it
possible for Fred to spend his final days at home. Visitors will be
received at the Logan Funeral Home, 371 Dundas Street, (Between
Waterloo and Colborne Streets) London on Friday from 2:00 – 4:00 and
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. A Masonic service under the auspices of Centennial
Lodge #684 will be held in the funeral home, Friday at 6:00 p.m. The
funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 472 Richmond
Street, London on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Private family
interment in Woodland Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers,
sympathy would be best expressed through donations to the London
Consistory Club or the London Scottish Rite Learning
Centre.
Online condolences can be expressed
atwww.loganfh.ca
A tree will be planted, by the Logan Funeral Home,
as a living memorial to Fred Kingsmill
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Fred Kingsmill 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: London, Province: Ontario