Allen David Timmins

Allen David Bruce Timmins passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on Dec 5 2022, surrounded by his loving family at the Halifax Infirmary.

Allen was born in 1925. He often spoke of his happy childhood, living with his beloved two sisters and parents in a house on the Northwest Arm, where life revolved around the water. Summers were spent swimming and rowing in the Arm, and winters spent ice skating and sailing his father’s ice boat – with the ever-present warning from his mother to not go past the Dingle for fear of thin ice.

Allen’s family moved to ‘the city’, to Lilac Street, when he was in third grade. He continued to head to the Arm in free time with friends, running down the hill to catch the rowboat ‘ferry’ across to the Dingle, and then through the woods to the Frog Pond for games of hockey.

In his teens he joined the Cadets, and when WW2 began, at 15 drove ambulances in Nova Scotia, transporting wounded service men to hospitals and convalescent centers throughout the province. The day he graduated from high school, he and four friends keenly walked together to the recruiting office and enlisted. He was only 17 at the time and needed a parent’s signature to allow a waiver.

The Air Force was Allen’s choice. After training in Winnipeg, he flew first in the Pacific and later was stationed in the east for the Battle of the Atlantic. As rear gunner with the RCAF, his unit served to escort Convoys safely across the Atlantic.

Post war in his professional life, Allen worked in procurement in the Shipyards, moving to Director of Purchasing for the Nova Scotia Power Corporation, then HB Nickerson’s and Sons, and then in his last 15 years of work, he was Director of Procurement for the Province of Nova Scotia.

Allen met the love of his life, June Kathleen Wellwood, through his sister Beryl. June took a job working in an office downtown where Beryl worked. He used to stop by to drive Beryl home from work some days; before long, he was stopping by every day and offering to drive June home as well.

Allen and June married in 1952 and had three children. Allen was dedicated to the family they created for the last 70 years of his life.

He enjoyed many family weekends spent in Rawdon where June grew up at the Wellwood family farm, where her family welcomed him as one of their own. And he loved the many summers the family spent at the Timmins family cottages in Bayswater.

He took great pleasure in watching his children grow and thrive. He sacrificed much to make this possible, from spending weeks of early mornings and late nights in the dark and bitter cold of winter creating an ice rink for them and their friends every year in their backyard, to driving them to endless swim team practices and meets throughout the province in the wee early morning hours. In later years he took equal pleasure and joy in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His joys outside his family were the great outdoors – the woods in particular - and his friends. Allen was an incredibly talented hunter, and moose and deer season were busy for him. He learned from great teachers, and enjoyed passing on his skills and knowledge to younger ones. He had wonderful times hunting in Rawdon, Barney’s River, and Meat Cove, with great friends Lawrence Williams and family, Bill Kitchen, Mel Larsen, and Allen Slaunwhite. His children were raised on the wild game he provided.

June tragically developed Alzheimer's in her mid-60’s and Allen devoted himself to caring for her until her passing at age 72.

He spent his last 15 years living at the Carlyle, with family members nearby and the help and enjoyment of many neighbors.

Allen’s family would like to give special thanks to his friend Al Slaunwhite, for his constant friendship through the decades and kind assistance to Allen in his later years.

Additionally the family is grateful and deeply touched by the compassion and kindness shown to Allen by the medical teams and staff at the Halifax Infirmary in his last weeks and days.

Allen was predeceased by his parents, Alice Maude (Bruce) Timmins and Guy William Timmins, his wife June Kathleen (Wellwood) Timmins, his sisters Beryl (Timmins) Little and (recently) Shirley (Timmins) Henricks, and his niece Wendy Porter.

Allen is survived by his children, Brian Allen Timmins (Cathy Timmins), Susan Kathleen Timmins (Tom Murphy), and Barry David Timmins (Darlene Armsworthy). And by his grandchildren, Kristen Timmins, Jennifer Lestus, Alexandra Murphy, Ben Murphy, Riley Timmins, Justin Timmins, Lauren Timmins, and his great-grandchildren, Conor Lestus, Kaden Lestus, Jaxen Lestus, Shelbie Timmins, Gage Timmins, Mac Murphy-Pratt, Layelle Murphy-Pratt, and many nieces and nephews.

Allen was so very appreciative for the many kindnesses shown to him in later years by family, friends, neighbors, and medical teams. The family suggests that if you feel drawn to do something in his memory, a kindness shown to someone in need would be a wonderful way to honor him.

With thanks to Cruikshank's Halifax Funeral Home for the kindness and care they showed in all arrangements.