TOM GILL

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TOM GILL Peacefully on February 9, 2010, at Kennestone Hospital near his home in Woodstock, Georgia, Tom Gill passed away at age 88. Tom was born March 13, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He will always be lovingly remembered by his wife of 26 years, Elma, sisters, Thelma Fletcher and Helen Wilde, seven children, John (Chris) Gill of Poole, England, Pat (Kim McVeigh) Meakin of Vancouver, Steven (Janine) Mathers of Hamilton, Bob (Diana Carwithen) Gill of Vancouver, Cathy (Doug) Haliburton of Chicago, Jennifer (Len) Simonis of Atlanta, Kevin Mathers of Atlanta as well as 12 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Tom was predeceased by his parents, Cliff and May Gill, his brothers, John and Bernard, his sister, Florence Polson, first wife Sybil and second wife, Marie. He attended St. Ignatius School and Robert H. Smith High School in Winnipeg. During the Second World War, Tom was in the Canadian Armed Forces for six years and fought in combat in North Africa and Italy. He lived in Winnipeg until he retired. After that, he and Elma travelled extensively spending winters in Mexico and Texas and summers at their cottage at Pelican Lake in Manitoba. They eventually settled in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. Tom fell in love with Hawaii from the first time he went there. He needed to be active and was very adventurous. In his youth, he participated in swimming, curling, hockey, and won trophies for figure skating. He roller-skated well into his 60s and participated in tubing and learned to drive an ATV at his nephew's cottage in his late 50s. At age 80 he parasailed for the first time on a holiday in Mexico. He and Elma were both passionate about ballroom dancing, square dancing and shopping. Until just a couple of weeks before he died, he played pool three times a week with friends. The whole family remembers his love of gardening at their cottage and at their home in Atlanta. Also, everyone knew that IHOP was his favourite restaurant for many years. A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 15, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at Hillside United Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, Georgia. This would not be complete if we didn't mention his love of children and animals and how excited he was about his daughter, Jennifer's plans to help children and horses. So, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her Healing Hands Youth Ranch (www.hhyr.org).Condolences can be sent to Elma Gill (tandegill@aol.com). Arrangements in care of South Canton Funeral Home and Chapel, 3147 Marietta Hwy., Canton, GA 30114, (770) 479-3377.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 13, 2010