William D'Arcy Thomson

Born March 28, 1926 at Toronto, Ontario. Died July 2, 2022, at Fergus, Ontario.

Bill Thomson died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of July 2, 2022. He is survived by his wife Willa (nee McCauley), his sons Andrew (Charmian Christie), Ian (Connie Moore), his daughter Nancy Smith, his grandson Cameron Smith and his granddaughter Rebecca Smith. He will be missed by his niece Heather Anderson (Bruce), Allison MacIntosh (Frank), nephew Duncan MacIntosh and great-niece Hillary Anderson.

Arrangements entrusted to Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home - Hart Chapel, Guelph, ON

Bill was born in Toronto in 1926, the only child of Charles and Helen Thomson (nee Froom). Despite the Depression, Bill spent a pleasant childhood in Streetsville and Port Credit in Peel County Ontario. Thanks to his maternal grandfather and two aunts he was able to spend many happy summers at a family cabin on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park.

While attending Port Credit High School, Bill became involved with the Sea Cadets. In early 1945, he joined the Navy and was called to active service just as the war in Europe ended. Bill was sent to Quebec City to train as a wireless operator, but the end of the war with Japan ended his training. He was returned to Toronto where he spent several months working at HMCS York. In February 1946, Bill’s naval career came to an end and he returned to civilian life.

In the fall of 1946, Bill entered the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph as part of the class of 1950. During his time at Guelph, he joined the Canadian Officer Training Corps selecting the artillery as his specialization. This meant weekly training sessions during the school year and summers being trained in places like Shilo and Esquimalt.

In May 1950, Bill graduated with a BSA degree and found work with the feed division of Canada Packers. In late 1951, Bill moved to work with Merck Chemicals in Toronto. It was a career that would last until his retirement in 1988. Bill began working in the office, but eventually found his calling as a sales representative for agricultural and veterinary products for Merck. For most of his career, Bill would work in a territory that included most of southwestern Ontario. In addition to his role with Merck, his career included work with the Ontario Institute of Agrologists, including a term as president in 1974-5, and with the Canadian Feed Manufacturers Association. The peak of his years at Merck came after Merck’s introduction of Ivermectin in 1984 which led to a significant increase in sales.

In September 1954 Bill married Willa McCauley at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Erindale Ontario. It was the beginning of a marriage that would last until his death. Together he and Willa raised two sons and a daughter: Andy, Ian, and Nancy.

One constant theme across the many years of Bill's life was his passion for trains, both models and real ones. Over the course of years, Bill took thousands of photographs and miles of movies of trains across North America, and in retirement continued that passion on trips to Africa and Europe. When Bill and Willa moved to Bath, Ontario, after Bill's retirement, his passion for trains saw him become involved with the Kingston division of the Canadian Railway Historical Association including serving as the Division President. Bill wrote and published articles in the branch’s newsletter, Kingston Rail, and in several other publications. In the years approaching the Millennium celebration, Bill and his friend Don McQueen researched and published a history of the Canadian Locomotive Company which had been headquartered in Kingston. Their book, Constructed in Kingston: A History of the Canadian Locomotive Companies 1854 to 1968, was published by the Canadian railway historical association and experienced both critical and commercial success.

More recently Bill and Willa had moved to Guelph, where their three children live. They enjoyed their years at the Riverside Residences on the Park building until health issues forced them both into long-term care. The family wishes to thank the incredible staff at Walnut Grove in the Wellington Terrace Long-term Care in Fergus Ontario who made Bill’s final days as comfortable as possible.

An open house in celebration of Bill’s life will be held in the garden at his son Andrew’s home, 53 Grange St. in Guelph, on Saturday August 13 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. This informal event will include refreshments and a chance to reminisce with Bill’s family. For more information contact Andrew at 519-821-8229.

In lieu flowers, please consider a donation to the Guelph Humane Society. Donations can be made by cash or cheque at the funeral home or online following the link below.