PHILIP WALTON

Philip Walton, aged 67, of Speerville, New Brunswick passed away quickly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009. Philip was born in the Vicarage, which was in the Village of Warton in Warwickshire, England on October 13th, 1941. He was the son of the late Dorothy (Siddall) and the Reverend Francis Walton. Philip was the youngest of three. He is survived by his wife Mhairi, four children; Matthew (Tammy), Naomi (Larry R.) Sharpe, Aaron and Andrew (Christy) and two granddaughters, Madison and Claire. He also leaves a brother, John (Lesley) Walton and a sister, Mary (Stan) Carpenter as well as a sister-in-law, Moira (David) Bovill and brother-in-law, Hugh (Sally) Gunn and several nieces and nephews, all living abroad. Philip was raised and educated in England. The year he turned 20, he ventured to Australia to work on a cattle and sheep ranch. Next he moved to New Zealand where he gained yet more experience farming. In his mid 20s, he came back to England to attend his sister's wedding, on the way visiting India and Malaysia. While in England, he took an animal husbandry course and then moved to Scotland to take a job on a very innovative farm, specializing in the development of new breeds of sheep and cattle. Here, Phil was in his element. He was a thinker and loved the intellectual challenge of the work. It was here that he met and fell in love with his wife Mhairi. The two married on April 11th, 1970. Phil had been offered a job in Canada managing a sheep farm for a Canadian millionaire who wanted to introduce new breeds of sheep to Canada. The couple lived in Quebec and it was there that Mhairi gave birth to their first born, Matthew. During their stay, Phil helped to develop a method of breeding sheep twice in the same year, something that at the time was unheard of. In conjunction with the University there, he and H.A. Robertson published a scientific paper regarding this, which he took a great deal of justifiable pride. This was in the Canadian Journal of Animal Science in 1974. Pursuing their own dreams, Mhairi and Phil lived briefly in Petitcodiac and then finally ended up buying their own farm in Speerville. The homestead in Speerville is where Philip and Mhairi raised three more children, Naomi, Aaron and Andrew. In the 1970's and 80's, Phil was a member of the W. W. Boyce Farmer's Market in Fredericton where he sold his fresh Canadian lamb and handmade products such as his well-known lambskin slippers. Phil tanned and sewed all his products himself. While his children were growing up, Phil attended the St. Mary's Anglican Church in Benton. Phil had a love for hockey, reciting poetry, sailing, the CBC, musical instruments, crosswords, nature, conversations and inventing. Phil loved and was devoted to his two granddaughters, Madison (11) and Claire (8) Sharpe. He was the perfect Grampie. He adored his extended family - Tammy Edwards (Matthew's partner), Christy Melanson (Andrew's partner), and Larry Sharpe (his son-in-law). For the past 8 years, Phil thoroughly enjoyed working for Kent Building Supplies and creating meaningful relationships there. Phil's most recent accomplishment was the canoe he finished building and sailed in May of this year. Phil was known for his humour, his kindly, gentlemanly manner, his helpfulness, his hearty laugh, his love of language, his humble attitude, appreciative outlook and his adventurous spirit. A peaceful and picturesque funeral/celebration of life ceremony was held in the beautiful family homestead. A memorable moment for the family was seeing the Kent team walking up their long driveway together in uniform. The service was officiated by his pastor and friend, Rev. Robert Barry, pianist Sarah Crawford, instrumentalist, Bob Jones, Phil's banjo instructor, accompanied by Jerry St. Peter on guitar. Welcome and Grace were given by friend and Pastor Luke Weaver. The Eulogy was given by Phil's daughter, Naomi Sharpe, singing by the Weaver family. The hymns were Phil's favourites - "The Church is One Foundation", "Blessed Be the Tie That Binds", and "I Feel the Winds of God Today". Interment was held in the Oak Mountain Cemetery. The reception was held back at the homestead with more beautiful music and a slideshow of Phil's life. A generous array of food was brought by family and friends. Phil will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to have met him. Source: Bugle-Observer,Woodstock,N.B Listing ID :226036 Date de Parution:July 10, 2009