Obituary of William Makin

Of Waterloo, passed away at Lanark Heights Long Term Care Centre, Kitchener on Sunday, July 15, 2012. Bill is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 68 years, Evelyn (nee Foreman); two daughters, Carol Hook and husband John of Waimamaku, New Zealand and Valerie Hertel and husband James of Kitchener; grandchildren, Lesley Schnarr and husband Dennis of New Hamburg, David Hertel and wife Donna of Kitchener, Carrie Reid and husband Scott of Kitchener, Janice Mager and husband Graeme of New Zealand, and Aaron Hook and wife Sarah of Australia; also great-grandchildren, Michael and Emma Schnarr, Eve, Mary and Joshua Hertel, Kolton Reid, and Cameron and Renae Mager. Bill was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1920 but was educated and spent his adult life in Portsmouth, England. He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. The family emigrated to Canada in 1951 and resided in Toronto and Milton where Bill was employed by Avro Aircraft Co. in the manufacture of the Arrow. When the company closed in 1959 with the cancellation of the contract by the John Diefenbaker Conservative government, the family moved to the K-W area where he was employed by Marsland/Leigh in various management positions. After the closing of this plant in 1980, Bill spent the remainder of his working life with the Federal Government in the Waterloo office of the Department of National Defence. Bill was a licensed amateur radio operator with a call sign of VE3IAP and was a member of the K-W Amateur Club. Bill is predeceased by his parents, William and Margaret Makin of Portsmouth, step-brother John Spence of Bournemouth, and step-sister Sadie Enfield of Portchester, England. At Bill's request, there will be no visitation or service. Cremation will take place. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to the Salvation Army may be arranged by contacting the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.