Obituary of Archie Purdon

Peacefully at Huron Hospice in Clinton on Saturday, January 9th, 2021, Archie Purdon of Goderich and formerly of Wingham passed away in his 93rd year.

Devoted husband and best friend of Mildred (Jacklin) Purdon for 68 years. Loving father of Kathy & John Scheeringa of Elmira, Lorie & Kevin Falconer of Blyth and Kendra Purdon & Bruce Cluney of Aurora. Cherished grandpa of Megan Scheeringa, Devan & Nicole Scheeringa, Jacklin Falconer & Ken McDonald, Orie Falconer, Corine Falconer & Brendan Regier, and Lauren, Rachel and Kaitlin Cluney. Great-grandpa of Madison and Miles. Brother-in-law of Maxine Jacklin and Nora Kaufman. Archie will be lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Predeceased by his parents Robert & Hazel (Anderson) Purdon, sisters Doreen Rintoul (Gordon), Muriel Moffatt (Lloyd) and Marjorie Roth (Tom), nephews Dick Curran, Gary Rintoul and Leroy Rintoul and parents-in-law Webster & Eva (McCreery) Jacklin.

Archie pursued both mixed and dairy farming outside of Whitechurch, Ontario alongside Mildred. After attending Sheridan college in his 60’s, he transitioned to being a Driving Instructor with Bluewater Academy. Smooth and quick on his feet, Archie and Mildred enjoyed all forms of dancing including square and round dancing. He also was an active volunteer in the community and his church, holding various positions including:  Board Member of the Belgrave Credit Union (LIBRO), Board Member of MADD, member of the Lucknow Agricultural Society, member of the Federation of Agriculture, volunteer and driver at the Wingham Day Center Program, Clerk of Session of Chalmer’s Presbyterian Church, Whitechurch, a representative to Presbytery and a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wingham.  In his retirement years, he learned to play the harmonica, mandolin and the bag pipes which led him to join the Lucknow, Brussels and Tri-County pipe bands. As an active band member, he enjoyed participating in many local parades across Ontario as well as in band trips to San Diego, Philadelphia, Denver and Montreal. As a couple, Archie and Mildred traveled across Canada, the USA, the Caribbean and Great Britain.  Above all, he most cherished spending time with family and friends. His calm nature, wit, and comforting smile shone through each day in everything that he did.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private funeral service will be held at McBurney Funeral Home on Friday, January 15th, 2021 with Reverend Larry Skinner officiating. Final resting place, Wingham Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Huron Residential Hospice, Clinton or the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wingham would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

A limb has fallen from the family tree. I hear a voice that whispers, 'Grieve not for me'. Remember the best times, the laughter, the songs. The good I lived while I was strong. Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you. Keep on smiling, the sun will shine through. My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.
Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.