Gow, James A. – Jim died peacefully in the Special Care Unit of Groves Memorial Hospital on Thursday January 3, at the age of 93 years. He leaves Zillah, his wife of 59 years, their daughter Robin and son Athol, and grand-children Jenna, Owen and Connor. He is survived also by his brother Bob and sisters Marion McKeown, Alice Strangway and Ruth Borras. After graduating from Fergus High School, Jim worked for several years for his father in his business of drilling water-wells and operating a building-stone quarry before joining the engineering firm in charge of the Shand Dam project near Fergus. In 1942 he entered the Faculty of Applied Science at the University of Toronto to study Civil Engineering, and remained at that institution for the following forty years, retiring in 1982 as Secretary and Assistant Dean of the Faculty. Upon returning to Fergus, he became interested in local history, serving for a time as President of the Wellington County Historical Society, and later as Secretary of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee. His historical walks around Fergus were popular with visitors and townsfolk alike. In his concluding act of community service, he became involved in the operation of the Victoria Park Seniors Centre, and as Chairman of the Board in the mid-1990s, he initiated administrative changes that set the stage for the remarkable success the Centre has since enjoyed. At Jim’s request there will not be a funeral. A private gathering of the family was held at the Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home on Monday January 7, followed by cremation. Friends desiring to make memorial donations may direct their gifts to the Groves Memorial Hospital Foundation or to the charity of their choice. (519) 843-3100 www.grahamgiddyfh.com
