Doug was born and raised in Shoal Lake, MB to parents Douglas and Lydia Stone (nee Robinson). Doug never met his father who was a flight engineer on a Lancaster bomber and killed in action in WWII in 1943. Thus, Doug was raised by his mother, Lydia, his supportive grandparents, Will and Gertrude Stone, and uncles, Peter and Charlie Robinson. He has many fond memories of growing up in Shoal Lake, playing hockey, fishing, hunting, working as a mechanic at (Jack) Schust Motors, helping on his uncles’ farms and driving vintage cars. He had a dog appropriately named Buddy.
Doug attended the University of Manitoba where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1965 specializing in mechanical engineering. He was the first person in his family to obtain a university degree.
After university, Doug moved to Calgary to work in the oil industry where he met the love of his life and wife of 57 years, Sandra (nee Geldart). They were married in Calgary in 1967 and soon thereafter, Doug and Sandy moved to Brandon, where Doug worked for Simplot and welcomed their first child, David into the world. In 1970, they moved to Thunder Bay so that Doug could take a position with Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, where he worked as an engineer for over 15 years. They soon welcomed their second son, Andrew, and three years later, their third son, Jamie.
After Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Doug worked as a consulting engineer, a professor at Lakehead University, and an Industrial Technology Advisor for the National Research Council, retiring in 2006. He was an active member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario and the Industrial Accident Prevention Association.
Doug and Sandra dedicated their lives to raising their family in Thunder Bay, with their children playing numerous sports, enjoying many camping trips to Quetico and Sibley Provincial Parks, cross country skiing at Kamview and many road trips with the tent trailer all over Canada and the United States. Doug was an active volunteer in Scouts Canada and his boys’ baseball and hockey teams. In an attempt to keep up with his boys, Doug taught himself to downhill ski at Loch Lomond around the age of 40. He would however never acquire a taste for their musical preference, remaining a lifelong fan of country music. Doug maintained a passion for Canadian and British history as well as researching his family ancestry, compiling a fantastic resource for future generations.
After their sons had left Thunder Bay for university and later, for work, Doug and Sandy finally had the time to travel to various destinations in Europe, to Hawaii, and to Florida in between numerous trips to and visits from their children and grandchildren in Halifax and New Jersey. They moved to Halifax in 2012 to be closer to family and they have enjoyed their new adventure in Nova Scotia and the many new people they have met.
Doug is predeceased by his father, Douglas, his mother, Lydia, and his son, Jamie, and is survived by his wife Sandra, sons, David (Sue) and Andy (Heather), grandchildren, Amanda, Matthew, Ryan, Alexander, and Gabriella.
The family is grateful for the care provided to Doug by the staff at Drummond Hall in Parkland and DePaul Hall in Caritas long-term care facilities in Halifax.
His family will hold a private celebration of life later this year. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donating to Parkinson Canada in his memory.
To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.jasnowfuneralhome.com
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