David Mitton

Dave shared a good life and ten years of retirement in Curve Lake with his wife Judy of 49 years, his brother-in-law and good friend Jamie Jamieson and, over the years, their many dogs. He will be sorely missed, especially by Nika, Dave’s current four-legged best buddy. He is predeceased by his parents, Glenn and Ursula [Coggins] Mitton. Dave is survived by daughter Tracy Tabbytite [David] in B.C, son Trevor of Kitchener, Leeanne Kilpatrick of Cambridge, 2 grandsons and two sisters of Chatham and B.C. respectively. Dave loved his darts and participated right up to his retirement in 2011. As a loyal Leafs fan since childhood, winters were spent divided between hockey and his dart team. In the off season Dave was an enthusiastic Jays supporter. Upon retirement Dave added Nascar and golf to his sports roster. Dave had a great sense of community. He was a joiner and a hard worker. At Fanshawe College, he was the Falcons hockey team trainer. As a long-time member of Air Cadets of Canada, in Chatham and London, he rose through the ranks to Lieutenant. His summers were spent as an instructor at Mountain View training cadets to fly gliders, the first step in obtaining a pilot licence. Dave descends from one of the first families of Kent County. Around 1818, three Mitton brothers and two sisters emigrated from Yorkshire England. Dave has always been aware of his deep Kent County roots. In 1978 Dave was an enthusiastic founding member of the Kent County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society and served for 2 years as chairman. As an avid participant in any group, Dave spent his summers with the rest of the Kent Branch members helping to transcribe the 123 Kent County cemeteries, a most valuable genealogical research tool. Later, Dave served on many OGS committees at the provincial level. Retirement was as Dave said, his golden years at Curve Lake with the rocks, the trees, the water, his boat and the wonderful people in Beausoleil. He will be fondly remembered by his jolly, infectious personality, by his hearty laugh and his willingness to jump in and help anyone, anytime. By his request, there will be no funeral. Instead, he has requested that donations be made to the Air Cadet League of Canada Flying Scholarship Fund: #201 1505 Laperriere Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7T1. Love of the organization shared a place in his heart with wife, children and dog. A Celebration of Life will be held as soon as covid permits. There will be a private scattering of his ashes on his beloved Lake Buckhorn. Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft star than shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there, I did not die.

David Mitton

May 31, 1949 - March 2, 2021