Obituary of Warnock Aitken

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Warnock Aitken was born in Montreal, only son of Mary Ellen and Samuel Warnock Aitken.

He celebrated his 6^th birthday on a boat from Canada to Scotland and then began his life in Dublin, Ireland. Warnock was a cub scout as a child and during World War 2 attended secondary school as a border at the Quaker school, Newtown Secondary School, Waterford, Ireland.

Warnock studied Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough College, England. After graduation, he worked as an engineer in Canada, the US and England.  In March 1956, Warnock and Rita were married and enjoyed a long and loving marriage until Rita passed away in 2020. After their wedding, he brought his bride back to Dublin to take up the position as Works Manager for Irish Industrial Gases where he worked for 18 years. In 1974, Warnock returned to Canada to continue his career in the gas business, followed by Rita and children and his parents. They lived in Brampton for 24 years and moved to Kitchener in 1989 forming a small sign-making business until 1996.

As an only child, Warnock was delighted to have three children and took an active role in their upbringing and education. He was also proud to be actively involved in the lives of his three grandsons in Brantford and regularly visited his two granddaughters in Switzerland, taking great interest in their hobbies, sports and education.

Warnock will be remembered as an energetic Elder of Kitchener East Presbyterian Church, always keen to get involved in fund-raisers and church activities. He and Rita were also dedicated volunteers at the Breithaupt Seniors Centre. For many years, he and Rita were keen campers and travelled extensively in their trailer throughout Eastern Canada and the USA and were active members of the Brampton Ramblers Camping Club. He also loved DIY projects to improve his home or add small improvements to his church or family’s homes. He played various sports, mostly for fun and to keep fit. He played college field hockey, tennis, squash and swimming at school and continued to play golf until his 90^th birthday.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at Kitchener East Presbyterian Church, 10 Zeller Dr. Kitchener, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 9:30am to 10:45am, followed by a memorial service at 11am. Reception to take place immediately following the service in the Church Hall. A private family interment will take place at a later date.

Condolences for the family and in lieu of flowers, donations to either Kitchener East Presbyterian Church or Canadian Cancer Society may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.

The family are grateful to the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home staff for their assistance with final arrangements. Special thanks go to the staff at St. Joseph’s Life Care Centre (Blue Bird) and staff at Charlotte Villa, Brantford who cared for Warnock in his final years. Special thanks to his friend, Pastor Mark Richardson of KEPC for his long-standing support to the family.

He is mourned by his family:
Hazel (-Aitken) and Peter Trepp, Switzerland
Philip and Janis Aitken, Brantford, Ontario
Elaine (-Aitken) and Wayne Griffin, Collingwood, Ontario

Grandchildren:
Clark and Katie Aitken with Sam, Milton, Ontario
Alison Trepp and Georg Borter with Matilda and Elliot, Switzerland
Wesly Aitken and Kylie Fitzpatrick with Cedar, Calgary, Alberta
Carolyn Trepp and Alberto Leopaldi with Henry, Switzerland
Troy Aitken and Kelly Johnstone with Chloe and Claire, Brantford.