John Sheppard Walton, or “J.S.” as we all knew him, has gracefully exited the Board room after many years of superlative governance. His 91 year old corporation stood the test of time and served him well, but in the end, as most entrepreneurs do, he merged with a greater power.
Although many other cherished members of his Board have since been lost to similar mergers, J.S. has been able to enjoy the local love and support of his two sons, Ross and Stuart, for many years. Collectively referred to as “The Porks” by J.S. during their formative years, his boys meant everything to him as they followed their own life journeys that eventually lead them back to him in Victoria.
J.S. began his own journey in the remote environs of Chicoutimi, Quebec where his family forged a life in the pulp and paper towns owned by the Price Brothers. Survival meant not only battling the elements, but gaining peer respect with the French Canadians both on the hockey rinks and in the school yards. For his high school years, John was sent to Ridley College, a traditional English boarding school in St. Catharines, Ontario, the same venue his own father had attended decades earlier, and the same venue that his own sons would attend decades later. He went on to secure a degree in Civil Engineering at McGill University which he nimbly navigated while attending late night performances of the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Oscar Petersen. After a brief stint at the University of Toronto Law School where he saved the world from one more lawyer, J.S. emerged from his university years unharmed and victorious, with a new bride in arm. It was this stretch of life from Northern Quebec all the way through to Montreal and Toronto that John spoke most fondly about later in life.
Freshly launched into the fast growing, post-war industrialized world, J.S. was expertly supported by beloved (and now departed) wife Joan (nee Watson). With her at his side, he took his special brand of life on the road: St. Adele, PQ (fun while it lasted); L’lIe Perrot, PQ (Robertson Irwin, Engineer); Welland, ON (Atlas Titanium, Marketing Mgr); Montreal, PQ (Canadian Liquid Air, Executive VP); London, UK (Amalgamated Metals Corp, President); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Brascan, Director); Calgary, AB (Westmin Resources, CEO); and Vancouver, BC (Placer Dome, CEO, Endeavour Capital, CEO). Even when J.S. eventually retired to Victoria in 1990, his “hobbies” included chairing the Boards of the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the Victoria Hospice Society and holding a Board seat with the Royal BC Museum. He was appointed Honorary Doctorate of Laws at the University of Victoria, Honorary Governor of the Victoria Foundation and was a recipient of both the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award. Always the true captain of industry, JS also sat on the Boards of MacMillan Bloedel and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
And yet despite all these fine achievements, the most enduring mark that J.S. will leave with all of his family and friends will be his zest for life and heart of gold. J.S. was an avid golfer and club member, not just at Victoria Golf Club, but at The Lakes in Palm Desert, Gavea Golf Club in Rio de Janeiro, Foxhills Country Club in England, Shaughnessy Golf Club in Vancouver and Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec. J.S. hosted countless Walton friends and family golfing and social events at these venues where so many memories were made. J.S. had an irresistible and contagious laugh, that seemed to go forever. He was generous in spirit and in means. He led by example, but his excellence was always matched with kindness, humour and civility. His two sons have often remarked that if J.S. had been their age, and they met in university, they would’ve been fast friends for life. There is a saying that a man is at his happiest when he is on his way to becoming who he is to be. J.S. never stopped becoming who he was to be. That was his secret to happiness.
John will be loved and forever remembered by his sons Ross (Krystina) and Stuart (Natascha), grandkids Kate, Jack, Charlie, Colin, Rowan, Rune and Freya, nephews Michael and Christopher, nieces Laurel, Kim, Jennifer, Jill, Julie, Kara and Kristin, brother-in-law Jim, sister-in-law Bev, cousins Bill, Doug, Nadia and Ellen, wonderful friend Ruth and so many other friends and relatives around the world.
Funeral services for John will be held at 11:00am PST, Friday June 10th, 2022 at Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Avenue, Victoria, BC.
Reception to follow at 12 noon PST at Victoria Golf Club, 1110 Beach Drive, Victoria, BC.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Victoria Hospice https://victoriahospice.org/.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Jim Nicell
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Albert & Dianne Marks Dear Ross and Stuart,
We met Joan and John in Rio de Janeiro for work assignments. Many delightful social times were had. Such a celebration for John’s 50 that Joan joyfully planned. It was a surprise and most memorable.
A few years later we relocated to Calgary for a few years.
Finally, we moved back west, this time to Victoria where we retired. We all enjoyed fine wine and conversation. Lots of laughter.
John and Joan are now reunited and for that we are pleased. Wonderful people who made the world a better place.They spoke often about you and their grandchildren.
Our sincere condolences.
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Susan Bell My sincere, love prayers and deepest sympathies to the whole family. Love Susan Bell
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Susan Bell I didn’t get to spend many occasions with you. It was fun meeting you and Joan. Dennis spoke so highly of you and now you’ll be joining him. I will miss your Christmas cards and emails. Rest in Peace. Love you, Susan
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Nick Gudewill I got to know John only in his later life through the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Victoria Golf Club, occasional greetings in the Desert and through the Honorary Governors of the Victoria Foundation. I wish I could have been the beneficiary of his wisdom by meeting him much earlier.
John courageously stepped up to Chair the Order of St. John at a particularly vulnerable time in our history. He provided instant credibility and leadership and provided an anchor when we really needed it.
As much as I respected and admired John, Joan was a huge part of his success in life. John will always be in my thoughts as a good and caring and humble man who married extremely well just like he did all things. Way to go John!
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Jill Watson I will miss my Uncle John’s contagious laugh and provocative conversation. I have always looked up to and admired his amazing generosity and accomplishments. The world is going to be a little less grand without John in it. Sending my love and warmest wishes to Ross, Stuart, and their families at this difficult time.
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Claire Hudson Kelly I was a back door neighbor to John and his family in Chicoutimi growing up. Even as a young man John showed the success and promise for his future years. The Walton’s had 2plum trees in their back yard which we sometimes would climb for a treat. Condolences to his sons and family.
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Mike Kirney John was a wonderful uncle to me and brother, Christopher. He always had plenty of wisdom and humour to offer and was very generous and patient with us both. It was an honour to spend time with a man who had achieved so much in life and I always loved hearing stories of his boyhood in Quebec and his many subsequent worldwide adventures. I will always remember him as a truly Great Canadian.
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Brenda Bell Olsen John, I thought you’d make it to the same age as Fad. You will be missed. Your humour, kindness and joy for life was truly an inspiration. Your life story was a delight to read and enabled me to get to know you even better. Love you, cousin.
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Gail GABEL I was saddened to hear of John’s passing and knew him through his membership in La Chaine des Rotisseurs, an international group that is dedicated to enjoying fine dining and wines. I was initially Treasurer when I met John and have since become President (Bailli) of our Chapter. John and I kept in touch over the years since his retirement from La Chaine. I remember John as a true gentleman and great conversationalist. We had much in common, both having spent many years in boardrooms at the “C” level. Rest easy John, Your Chaine friends send sincere condolences to your family. And John, that boardroom in the sky awaits.
Sincerely,
Gail Gabel.
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Nadia Hanson and Douglass Hanson Both of us being only children and having no family in Montreal, it was a blessing when Joan and John moved here with Ross and Stuart and became Aunt and Uncle to our girls. We had such happy times and wonderful experiences and travelled the world with them. We continue to treasure these memories. Rest In Peace, dear John.
Nadia and Douglass Hanson
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Lawrie Jackson full meeting at party in Montreal. I also had the privilege of meeting John’s parents in the Chicoutmy area while on trips to the region as a an undergraduate on summer jobs.
As his obituary reveals John , Joan and the boys had a wonderfully full life experience.Condolences to the Walton family.
Lawrie Jackson and family
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Sean Keenan I think it speaks volumes to feel very close to someone, to respect and admire him and yet, on reflection, realize that you had only really been in his presence on relatively few occasions. John was always warm, generous and had a great sense of humour. He was wonderful to be around. I am glad I knew him as much as I did. I’m the better for it. My sincere condolences to his family and friends
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Patricia Hawkings John was my oldest friend–& I think I was his oldest as well. We kept in touch all the years since our teen age years in Quebec. He & my husband Bill were friends from early childhood, & with our family, John mourned Bill’s death at age 68, in 1999. John & Bill attended Ridley & McGill together. I treasure the memories we shared.
Sincerest condolences to John’s family. My thoughts & prayers are with you all.
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Ellen Redden John, you leave such lasting memories in my heart of your kindness, your quick wit, strong character and success.
You were truly a “class act”, a great host and a loving family member. You will be missed.
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Terry and Leslie Farmer John was a brilliant, friendly man who will be sadly missed. I first met John and Joan at the commonwealth Games in Auckland ( I believe it was ) and we became good friends and then John was very involved with the games here and we worked together. Leslie and I also attended a couple of lovely parties at their home and John did an excellent job as Commander of The Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Everyone we know had the utmost admiration for John and condolences to Ross and Stuart and your families
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Marian Thiel My deepest sympathies to the family. He accomplished a lot but being a kind friend was certainly one of his best accomplishments. Sincerely Marian Thiel.
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Gary A Mitchell I was on the Museum executive when John was Chair of the Board, a wonderful manager of time and people, respectful of the staff and always, always, a sense of humour. A truly wonderful and unique person has passed and the mornings will be less bright and cheery for some time to come.
Dear Ross and Stuart,
I am writing to express my deepest sympathies to you, and your families about the death of your father, John S. Walton.
While words do not provide adequate consolation for the loss of a loved one, please know that my colleagues and I at the Faculty are with you in our thoughts.
Sincerely,
Jim A. Nicell
Dean, Faculty of Engineering
McGill University