Obituary of Donald Leroy Whitfield

Whitfield, Donald Leroy  - Aged 81 years, of Vineland, Ontario, passed away on Wednesday, August 5^th, 2020 while being cared for at the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby, Ontario.

Due to Covid restrictions, masks will be required and all physical distancing rules will apply for the brief viewing that will be offered prior to the Celebration of Life that will be held at the Beamsville Church of Christ, 4900 John St. Beamsville, on Tuesday, August 11^th.  The viewing will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the Celebration of Life will begin at 12:00 noon.  Due to covid restrictions the interment at the graveside will follow, for family members only. 

Donald Whitfield was born in Sarnia, Ontario to Fred and Annie Whitfield on May 9^th, 1939.  He grew up in Sarnia, but completed his high school education at Great Lakes Christian College in Beamsville.  He married his first wife, Vilma, on July 29, 1960 in Sarnia, Ontario. While married to Vilma, they lived and raised their family in Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines and Toronto, where Vilma passed away in 2001.  His natural people skills led him from sales work to public relations and fund-raising roles with non-profit organizations such as Great Lakes Christian College, World Vision and the Leprosy Mission.  He also worked as a minister for the Bayview Church of Christ for several years.  In 2002 he married his second wife, Helen, and they enjoyed 18 years of marriage in the town of Vineland, Ontario, until his passing.  Don loved life and was involved in various activities during his retirement.  He golfed, curled, was involved with the PROBIS club and was very active with the Church of Christ right up until his health began to fail.

Don is preceded in death by his parents (Fred and Annie Whitfield), his first wife (Vilma Whitfield) and his sisters (Evelyn Johnson, Marilyn Smith and Joyce Hammond-Papineau). 

Don is survived by his second wife, Helen Whitfield; his children, Julie (and Alan) Woodhouse, Jim (and Heidi) Whitfield and his step-son, Roger McNeill; his brothers, Stuart (and Lois) Whitfield and James (and Debbie) Whitfield; his sister, Marlene (and Fred) Hampshire; his grandaughter, Rebecca (and Nathaniel) Metherel, along with their four children, Everett, Eleanor, Beatrice & Bennett and his grandson, James (and Alyssa) Cromwell, along with their daughter, Emilia; and grandchildren Kristen, Emily and Benjamin Whitfield. He also leaves behind many in-laws, nephews and nieces who remember him with great affection.

Memorial Donations may be given to West Lincoln Memorial Hospital or Great Lakes Christian High School.  The family of Don Whitfield wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all the staff at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital for their care.