Obituary of Reginald Harvey

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Reginald "Reg" Harvey on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at the Grand River Hospital in his 89th year. He was the loving husband of Barbara (nee Haslehurst) for 67 years. He was the loving father of Martyn (Carol) Harvey and the loving grandfather of Graeme (fiancé Kinari) and Andrew Harvey. He is survived by sisters-in-law Gwyneth Haslehurst and Freda Dowler, both of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, U.K. and many cousins, nieces, and nephews in Canada and the U.K. Reg will also be sadly missed by friends and neighbours in Ontario, the U.K., and Forest Park, North Ft. Myers, Florida. He is predeceased by his parents, George James and Ann (nee Martin) Harvey, and his eight siblings, Elsie, George, Jessie, Harry, Colin, Cyril, Roy, and his twin sister Marjorie, and by brothers-in-law Maurice and Jack Haslehurst. Reg was born in Silverdale, Staffordshire, U.K. on April 21, 1925. He served his apprenticeship with the Rolls-Royce Engineering Co. during the war years working on Merlin engines for the famous Spitfire fighter planes. He served in the Royal Air Force for 2 years after the war. He then became a partner in an engineering business "Harvey and Lee Engineers." Determined to become a teacher, he returned to school to attain his teaching credentials while owning and operating a paint and hardware store. Reg began his teaching career in the mid-1950's at Broadmeadows Senior School in Chesterton, Staffordshire, U.K. and later became a senior lecturer at the North Staffordshire College of Further Education in Stoke-on-Trent, U.K. While he was teaching, Reg's entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to start another business "Hotfast Roofing Equipment" where he invented, patented, and manufactured specialized equipment for the flat roofing trade. Reg immigrated to Canada with Barbara in 1974 where he taught drafting and machine shop at Bendale Secondary School and Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute, both in Scarborough, Ontario, until his reluctant retirement in 1990. During this time, he was a member and past President of the Royal Institute of Production Engineers, Ontario Branch. After his retirement from teaching, he and Barbara moved to Waterloo, Ontario. He continued working hard in his next business venture "R&B Enterprises" decaling and firing pottery that was sold in local British gift shops and the St. Jacob's Farmers Market. Reg loved spending time with his family, gardening, swimming in his pool, and going for country drives with Barbara in their white 1973 vintage Jaguar. He loved spending the winters at their Florida home in Forest Park, North Ft. Myers, where he was a past President of the Canadian Club. There he enjoyed playing euchre, bocce, shuffleboard, bingo, and line dancing. He loved being a member of the choir, being M.C. at various events, and participating in all of the park's activities. Reg's determination, positive attitude, sense of humour, strong family values, and personal integrity endeared him to us. He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered. Family and friends are invited to the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. South, Waterloo on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 for a Memorial Reception in the Erb Kumpf Suite of the funeral home from 6 to 9 pm. Cremation has taken place. Interment will be held at Parkview Cemetery at a later date. Condolences for the family and donations to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre or the charity of your choice may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445. Special thanks to the staff at the Grand River Hospital for the care given to Reg.