William Robert “Bob” Wightman
Died: June 21, 2013 | Place: Sprucedale Care Center
Obituary
WIGHTMAN, Dr. William Robert…
Dr. Bob (W. R.) Wightman of London, Ontario quietly slipped away at the Sprucedale Care Centre, Strathroy, Ontario, on June 21st, 2013. Beloved husband of the late Nancy M. (Clement) Wightman. Dear father of Richard A. “Rick” Wightman (Lori) of Fredericton, New Brunswick. Wendy Connell (Gordon) of Parkhill, Ontario. Dear brother of Patricia Drummond of Point Claire, Quebec. Loved by his grandchildren Sarah, Jerry, William, Jake and Dylan. Predeceased by his parents Norman and Marjori (Hoover)Wightman. He will be missed my many nieces, nephews and close friends. Friends will be received by the family from 2-4 and 7-9pm on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London, where the funeral service will be conducted in the chapel on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 1pm. Interment of cremated remains in Gordon Cemetery, Manitoulin Island. As an expression of sympathy, In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gore Bay Union Public Library, 15 Water Street, P.O. Box 225, Gore Bay, ON P0P 1H0 or a charity of your choice. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
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Wendy, Rick and families
As you know, your Mom and Dad were our co-convenors of the Flea Market for the OL Vol Committee for MANY years and had lots of fun and lots of work. Before that BINGO so we go back a long way. All the best as we are outoftown and cannot attend the funeral on Wed as I told Liz E when she phoned . Our thoughts are with you.
Bill and Jean
Dear Wendy, Nick and families:
I was saddened to learn of Bob’s passing. I’m sorry not to be able to attend his funeral, but I will be en route to England on Wednesday. Nancy and Bob were already actively involved with the Orchestra Volunteer Committee when I joined it years ago. I have memories of many Rummage Sales, among other things…!
I hope you will draw comfort from your memories and from those which others share with you in the coming days.
Sincerely,
Susan Merskey
I was very saddened to hear of your dad’s passing. I had the pleasure to know both your mom and dad through Geography events hosted by our department. They were both so helpful to me by keeping me in the loop with all of our professors emeriti. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
I was a student in Dr. Wightman’s Historical Geography class in 1969-70. It is a long time ago, but I can still remember his great enthusiasm, lesson after lesson. He inspired me to take a master’s degree in the subject, and gave me a life-long interest in exploring relic landscapes. He was a fantastic teacher, one of the best!Thank you Dr. Bob.
Wendy, Rick and families,
Sincere sympathy from all the members of the Volunteer Committee Orchestra London
I first met Bob in the Fall of 1960 when I came to Western’s Geography Department as a graduate student from Singapore. Bob was most hardworking, meticulous and completely dedicated to Geography. To those who did not know him well, he seemed too serious and aloof. But the picture here reveals his other side, which was full of humour, warm and low-key. As a foreign student, I received much help and encouragement from Bob, who treated me like a brother, introducing me to his family and close friends and inviting me to his wedding in Welland. We kept our ties all these years, from Canada to England, and back to Canada. Indeed, Bob was one of the few who made Canada so attractive to me that I came back after completing my studies in England. Thank you, Bob. I will miss a dear brother.
Dear Wightman Family: We send you our sincerest condolences as we fondly remember an exemplary colleague and an exceptional researcher and writer. Requiescat in Pace.
Kindest regards,
Hilary and Peter Neary
To Rick and Wendy: I am so thankful to have known Bob (and Nancy). When I first arrived at the Department of Geography at Western in 1985, Bob and Nancy invited me up to their cottage on Manitoulin Island and introduced me to the wonderful “geography” of the island. I’ve been going there ever since! We also met regularly for dinner at an interesting cultural restaurant in London. Bob personified being a geographer to me. They are both missed.
Cheryl
Rick and Wendy and their families, I offer my condolences to you and can only encourage you to remember the heartwarming laugh that the picture of Bob reminds me of. I have known your parents since I came to UWO as a student in 1976 and had one of Bob’s courses, and later when I worked for the Geography Dept in the Map Library. The love of maps that Bob and Nancy had was without question.