William (Bill) Adams Buck

May 17, 1923 – August 19, 2018

Peacefully in his sleep at Cummer Lodge, North York, William Adams Buck passed away after battling dementia for the past few years. Bill was 95 and is survived by his loving wife, Ethel, 96, in their 73rd year of marriage.

Bill will be sorely missed by his son William David Buck and his wife Mary, and his daughter Penny Caston and her husband Art. Fondly loved by his five grandchildren, William Jason Buck, Jordan Buck, Kim Moulsdale, David Caston, and Laura Spagnolo and their spouses. Eleven great grandchildren also got to experience Bill’s inspiring presence.

Bill was born in Toronto, the son of William Fredrick and Sadie Buck. At the age of six, he lost his right arm in a farming accident, but that never slowed his development and prowess as he went on to play star goalie for the General Engineers in the Toronto Hockey League (recognized in Ripley’s Believe It or Not for Sports!), perform stunt platform diving at the CNE, win several golf tournaments (including a green jacket from York Downs) and record two holes-in-one. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and shot a mean game of billiards.

Bill worked at General Engineering (GECO) during WWII as a supervisor and coached the women’s softball team. It was there he met his future wife Ethel. He later joined his two brothers, Arthur and Douglas in the family grocery business. He managed Fredrick Market in the Davenport/Ossington area of Toronto for many years, before taking an early retirement to Gravenhurst in Muskoka where he remained active in golf and curling.

He was very involved in the Toronto Progress Club over his years in Toronto, being on the Board for several years and President from 1962-1963. He was also recognized for his leadership in helping establish the Progress Club in Halifax NS.

He and Ethel returned to her home town of Aurora in their later years to be close to family and friends. They spent four years together in Oak Ridges Retirement Home in their early nineties until Bill was transferred to Cummer Lodge for his special care needs. The family wishes to thank the staff at both these residences for their care and support of Bill over these final years.

A celebration of Bill’s life for family and friends will be held at Thompson Funeral Home at 530 Industrial Parkway South, Aurora on Tuesday, August 28th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario would be appreciated.