GRUMMETT, DANIEL LYNN ‘DAN’
Veteran Pilot RCAF WWII
Born in Proton Township near Dundalk on August 13, 1923, the eldest of a family of five boys born to Willoby and Zilla (nee Rich) Grummett, Dan passed away at Errinrung Long Term Care in Thornbury on Sunday February 9, 2020 at the age of 96.
The family moved to Thornbury in 1934 where Dan attended school completing Grade 12. During the winter of 1940-41 Dan completed a wartime machine shop course at OSCVI in Owen Sound which led to employment at the Clyde Aircraft Factory in Collingwood.
He enlisted in the RCAF aircrew branch and began serving on the 19th of May 1942 graduating as a pilot in June 1943. He served overseas in the United Kingdom from July 1943 to July 1945 during which time he was attached to the Royal Airforce. On September 1, 1945 he was demobilized and it was back to ‘civy street’. Later in September he married Georgina Vollick from Midland whom he had met in 1942 and they were blessed with four children.
Following a short time at rehab school in Toronto in 1945 Dan was employed at a Meat Packing Company in Barrie where he became the credit department manager.
In April of 1951 he joined the RCAF as a pilot instructor instructing on Harvard and T33 jet aircraft until 1959 at which time he was transferred to transport division. There he flew C119 and C130 Hercules Aircraft until retiring in 1970 after which he drove both chartered and school buses in Tillsonburg and later in Meaford.
Dan started participating in curling during his second tour in the RCAF and continued that interest until the conclusion of the 2014-15 season.
Dan was predeceased by his beloved wife Georgina on September 22, 2008 and brother Ken Grummett in 2003 as well as a grandson Garret Mattson in 2000 and half sister Shirley Crockett, sister-in-law Violet Hammond and brothers-in-law Robert Vollick and Reginald Vollick.
He is survived by his children: William (Jackie) of Owen Sound, Linda Mattson (Milt) of Humboldt, SK, James of Thornbury and Donald (Kathy) of Meaford. Brothers Leonard (late Kay) of Nepean, Carl (Katharine) of Collingwood and Laverne (Jean) of Meaford also survive Dan and he will be fondly remembered by Ria Grummett of Owen Sound. He will be sadly missed by his 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren. A sister-in-law Jean Vollick of Orillia also survives Dan and he will be fondly remembered by his several nieces and nephews and their families.
Funeral and committal services will be conducted at the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford N4L 1B9 on Monday February 17, 2020 at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow at Meaford United Church. A family service of interment will take place at a later date.
If so desired and as your expression of sympathy, donations to the Meaford Hospital Foundation, Chapman House Hospice, the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice would be appreciated. www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca
Details
Monday, February 17, 2020 11:00 AM
Service and Committal: Ferguson Funeral Home, Meaford
Donations: Meaford Hospital Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Hospice Grey Bruce ‘Chapman House’
2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de GRUMMETT DANIEL LYNN ‘DAN’ 2020..
Décès pour la Ville:Meaford, Province: Ontario