Archie Stuart Purdon
Archie Stuart Purdon of Goderich and formerly of Wingham, passed away peacefully at Huron Hospice in Clinton on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. He was in his 93rd year.
Archie was the devoted husband and best friend of Mildred (Jacklin) Purdon for 68 years. He was the loving father of Kathy and John Scheeringa, Elmira; Lorie and Kevin Falconer, Blyth and Kendra Purdon and Bruce Cluney, Aurora. Archie was the cherished grandpa of Megan Scheeringa, Devan and Nicole Scheeringa, Jacklin Falconer and Ken McDonald, Orie Falconer, Corine Falconer and Brendan Regier, and Lauren, Rachel and Kaitlin Cluney. He was great-grandpa of Madison and Miles and the brother-in-law of Maxine Jacklin and Nora Kaufman. Archie will be lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Robert and Hazel (Anderson) Purdon, sisters Doreen Rintoul (Gordon), Muriel Moffatt (Lloyd) and Marjorie Roth (Tom), nephews Dick Curran, Gary Rintoul and Leroy Rintoul and parents-in-law Webster and Eva (McCreery) Jacklin.
Archie pursued both mixed and dairy farming outside of Whitechurch, alongside Mildred. After attending Sheridan College in his 60s, he transitioned to being a driving instructor with Bluewater Academy. Smooth and quick on his feet, Archie with Mildred enjoyed all forms of dancing including square and round dancing. He was also an active volunteer in the community and his church, holding various positions including: Board Member of the Belgrave Credit Union (LIBRO), Board Member of MADD, member of the Lucknow Agricultural Society, member of the Federation of Agriculture, volunteer and driver at the Wingham Day Center Program, Clerk of Session of Chalmer’s Presbyterian Church, Whitechurch, a representative to Presbytery and a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wingham. In his retirement years, he learned to play the harmonica, mandolin and the bagpipes which led him to join the Lucknow, Brussels and Tri-County pipe bands. As an active band member, he enjoyed participating in many local parades across Ontario as well as in band trips to San Diego, Philadelphia, Denver and Montreal. As a couple, Archie and Mildred travelled across Canada, the USA, the Caribbean and Great Britain. Above all, he most cherished spending time with family and friends. His calm nature, wit, and comforting smile shone through each day in everything that he did.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private funeral service was held at McBurney Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 15. Rev. Larry Skinner officiated. Archie’s final resting place is in Wingham Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Huron Residential Hospice, Clinton or the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wingham would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com