Obituary for Jim Whitmarsh

James Richard Whitmarsh, known by close friends as “Buff”, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2023 at the age of 73 in Kingston in the presence of close friends and family.

Jim will be fondly remembered for his generosity, integrity, sense of humour (including many colourful country expressions) and his strong work ethic. Jim worked as an electrician at Alcan/Novelis for 47 years and had a reputation as a determined and resourceful colleague who could fix anything and stuck up for the people working alongside him. But the work he enjoyed most was on his family farm on Wolfe Island, where he raised cattle for years; his resourcefulness was on full display repairing fences, fixing tractors and bailing hay well into his retirement.

Jim will be remembered for his bicycling in all types of weather – snow, sleet and rain – with a radio strapped to the handlebars and a pipe perched on the side of his mouth.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Diane and two children, Kelly (Craig) and Fred (Meghan), grandchildren (Hadley, Calvin, Norah and Molly) and his sister, Carol. Predeceased by his brother George.

The family will receive friends at the James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd. on Monday, August 14, 2023, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm and from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Wolfe Island, on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 11:00 am. Rite of Committal will take place at Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery, with a reception to follow at the Sacred Heart School Hall.

Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to the Wolfe Island Volunteer Fire Department and University Hospitals Kingston Foundation.