Obituary of Colin McKinley
On Saturday, July 8, 2023, Stephen Andrew Colin McKinley of Waterloo, Ontario passed away at the age of 95.
Colin was born in Northallerton, England in 1927. He joined the Royal Air Force, where he was trained as an airline mechanic. He was stationed in Gibraltar. It was during this military service that he met his wife at the Corinthian Ballroom in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. After the war, Colin worked for BOAC (now British Airways) as an airline mechanic. In 1965, he moved to Canada and continued to work as an airline mechanic in Toronto. He spent some time in Florida before returning to Canada and settling in the KW Region. His last 15 years before retirement were spent working at the Grand River Hospital. In his retirement years, Colin took up painting and enjoyed painting landscapes. He was a lover of documentaries and the news, enjoyed travelling, and will be dearly missed by all for his joke-telling and his dry sense of humour.
Colin will be lovingly remembered by his wife Esta McKinley (nee Doherty), with whom he had a remarkable bond that lasted 66 years. He is also survived by his nephews Brian (Lynn and their children Megan and Abby), John (Tracy and their children Adam and Emily), Kevin, Steve (Nanci), and Chris of Canada, and Chris, Ted, Raymond, Desmond, Brian, Michael, Gerard, and John of Australia.
Colin is preceded in death by his father Stephen, mother Peggy (nee Taylor), nieces Anne, Marie, and Mona, and nephew Neil.
The family extends their sincere appreciation to the 7th floor staff at St. Mary’s General for the compassionate care they provided to Colin.
Cremation has taken place, and the Memorial Mass will be held at St. Louis RC Church, 53 Allen St. E, Waterloo on Thursday, July 13th at 10am. A Reception will follow at Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo.
Condolences for the family and donations to Hospice Wellington or the KW Humane Society may be arranged through www.erbgood.com
Memorial Mass
