Whale, Elwin; of Goldstone, passed away peacefully at Palmerston Hospital on May 31, 2012 in his 93rd year. Beloved husband of Enid (Trask) Whale for 67 years. Loving father of Marilyn and Rich Weckworth, Bruce and Deborah Whale, Stuart Whale of Australia, Marg and Howie Fidler, Kate and Wayne Gayman, Donna Whale and Jim Dynes. Proud Grandfather of Kristin (Paul) Mallon; Andrea (Steven) Cooke; Nathan (Andrea) Weckworth; Korb (Kelly) Whale; Tyler (Julia) Whale; Gloria Whale; Robert (Beverley) Fidler; the late Derek Fidler (1993); Brent (Kate) Fidler; Claire (Ben), Marshall, Brock, Justine and Nelson Gayman. Great Grandfather of Andrew, Connor, Ethan, Alexa, Cameron, Rya and Alison. Brother of Thelma Bosomworth. Brother-in-law of Wilma Snowe, Marjorie McDowell, Jean Trask, Murray and Mavis Trask and Morley and Thelma Trask. Predeceased by his parents Stanley and Agnes (Close) Whale, sister Jean Bates, and daughter-in-law, Patsy Whale. During his farming career, Elwin was a firm believer in life-long learning and community service, and was actively involved in many organizations. These included several Wellington County agricultural organizations such as the Soil and Crops Improvement Association, the Milk Committee, the Farm Safety Association, the Plowman’s Association, the Holstein Club, and the Drayton District Cooperative. He was also involved locally as a trustee of S.S.#6 Peel Public School, 4-H Field Crops leader, Alma Boy Scouts Committee member, the PMD Agricultural Society and the Mapleton Historical Society. He was also a Gay Lea Cooperative delegate for many years. Elwin was a lifetime member of the Goldstone United Church and served as an Elder, Treasurer and Sunday School Superintendent. He enjoyed singing tenor in the church choirs in Goldstone and Alma on special occasions and in several quartet harmony groups. The Alma Optimists Club became a special way for him to continue his community involvement in his retirement years. Travel, attending sports or musical events, especially when family members were involved, and time spent at the cottage at McCullough Lake with family and friends, were very special times for Elwin. Elwin was always interested in what was going on at the farm, and if anything needed to be repaired or a job involving a tractor in a field was available, he was only a phone call away. His was a long and full life, well lived to the end. The family received friends at the Heritage Funeral Home, Drayton. The Funeral service was held in the Alma Community Centre on Monday, June 4, 2012 at 1:00pm.
