Ellenton, Harold Kenneth

He was born Dec. 9, 1926 in Innisfail Alberta. He grew up with his brothers and sisters in Kincardine, Ontario; enjoying winter sports and summers at the lake, playing horn in the school band, and working in his Dad’s hardware store.

He studied maths and sciences at University of Western Ontario, where he met his future wife, Gloria Elizabeth Stinson Logan in Radio Physics class. They both did their Masters in Meteorology, training as weather forecasters at Canada’s rapidly expanding system of airports. They married in June 1950 and soon relocated to Waterloo, Ontario; where Harold was the second man hired for what would become the science faculty of University of Waterloo. He taught in the Physics Department and helped develop U of W’s correspondence program. His research focused on the physics of the Great Lakes, with summers at Baie du Doré and Manitoulin Island. His sabbatical years involved studying oceanography in Seattle, and Auckland New Zealand.

Harold was an early adopter of technologies, from the electronic calculator and reel to reel recording, to the microwave oven and home computer. He was involved in the early days of many local organizations, including KW Field Naturalists, the Maple Leaf Investment Club, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery and Third Age Learning. He was instrumental in creating the first pension plan for the University of Waterloo Retirees Association.

Harold maintained a life-long interest in farming, as his extended family (Brain and Cowin) were some of the earliest farmers in the Hornby area of Esquesing Township. After much searching, Harold and Gloria found their own piece of the earth, 150 acres with an 1867 stone farmhouse and a beautiful stream, on the escarpment near Walter’s Falls.

Harold was predeceased by his wife, Gloria (1927 – 2014), his brothers and sisters (Frank, Doris, Lloyd, Mary, Donald, Roy) and his eldest daughter Jennifer (1952 – 2022). His is survived by a large and loving family: his children Susan (Robert Anderson), Kristy (Mike Stroh), Liz (Kelly Townsend) and Bob (Faith Moosang), and his 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Many thanks to Ferguson Funeral Home, our good neighbours on Alexandra Ave. in Waterloo and the kind folks at Meaford Long Term care.

As your expression of sympathy, donations to the Charity of Your Choice would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON   N4L 1B9 to whom arrangements have been entrusted.   www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca