Obituary of Floyd Harvey Dow

Dow; Floyd Harvey Passed peacefully at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Ontario on April 3, 2017 at the age of 74. Floyd is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Willow Dorothy Elizabeth Dow (née Milne); children, Jennifer May Dow-Little (Michael Little) of London, ON, Heather Dorothy Dow (Robert Switzer) of Kingston, ON and his grandchildren, Mekenzie (12), Makayla (6), Liam (20), Andrew (18), Will (20), Hannah (14); siblings, Jean (Gord) of Seaforth, ON, Brenda (Barry) of Stratford, ON, Bruce (Joan) of Stratford, ON, Marlene (Ray) of Mitchell, ON and Joyce (Ralph) of Clinton, ON. He is survived by his many nieces and nephews, known by some as “Uncle Pink”. He is predeceased by his parents Dorothy Irene Dow and Harvey Kitchener Dow of Cromarty, ON. Floyd was born on December 21, 1942 in Stratford, ON to Dorothy and Harvey. He married Willow Dorothy Elizabeth Milne on April 1, 1967, the year of Canada’s Centennial, having met at the branch where they were employed (as assistant manager and Willow, a teller). After moving to Kemptville, Ontario, Floyd and Willow started their family, welcoming first daughter Jennifer and then Heather. Floyd’s career brought the family to Manotick, Ontario and then to Kingston but no matter where Floyd lived, he always encouraged his daughters to pursue their goals. Upon completing business management courses, he had a successful 25-year banking career followed by a 15-year career as a dealership Financial Services Manager in Kingston. They retired to their home in Nogies Creek, ON where they lived the cottage-life dream; enjoying years of boating on the Trent-Severn Waterway with family and friends. He was a consummate tinkerer and had amassed an incredible collection of tools, with a memory of each item’s location that could be recalled at any time. Like his father, Floyd had the farmer’s way of fixing anything, with varying degrees of success. When not outside, Floyd was passionate about history. He was an avid reader of WWI and WWII anthologies and historical books. Floyd would often sit in his chair, by the river, and read. Other interests included computers and technology which he combined with his love of ancestry; using the internet and available resources to locate past relatives. Pets were an important part of his life and he enjoyed his daily walks with Sparky. Floyd loved camping and frequented most Ontario parks to pitch a tent, play his banjo and sing old standards; often drawing a crowd of like-minded musicians. Cremation has taken place in Bobcaygeon, Ontario. A Celebration of Life will take place at Nogies Creek, Ontario in the spring. Floyd will be interred alongside his mother and father at Roy’s Cemetery in Fullerton, Ontario at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers the family has asked donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada or The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. The family is especially grateful to the doctors and nurses at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Peterborough Regional Health Center, and Ross Memorial Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit, who provided excellent care and support, during his short but valiant battle with a very rare form of Leukemia (Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm). Friends may send condolences, make donations, or receive arrangement details by contacting THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES, MONK CHAPEL, 6 HELEN STREET, BOBCAYGEON at (705) 738-3222 or www.hendrenfuneralhome.com.