Walter McFarlane
Walter McFarlane, August 7th 2026, at Nipissing Serenity Hospice after a brief illness at 88 years of age. Walter was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1938. WALTER survived the bombings of the second world war and immigrated to Canada at 14 years of age in the early 1950s, settling in North Bay with his parents, Walter and Peggy McFarlane, aunt Elizabeth McKechnie, sister Elizabeth (Betty) Hancock, and maternal grand mother Elizabeth (Mumsie) Sharpe (all predeceased).
Walter worked for the ministry of transportation (MTO) from high school for 37 years, retiring only to return as a consultant in the same field of engineering, as he truly loved his field of work and never really wanted to retire. Walter was well respected in the highway design and engineering field and served as a mentor to young designers and engineers for years after his retirement often fielding calls or visits to help come up with solutions to unique problems.
It was early in his career at the DHO/MTC where WALTER met his true love, his wife, Judy (Schell). They were married for well over 55 years prior to Judy’s passing. Walter and Judy had a wide social circle, and many adventures together and truly were soulmates.
Walter is survived by his two sons, Scott (Erin) of North Bay, and Ross of Windsor, as well as 2 grandchildren Grayden McFarlane (North Bay) and Lauryn Ashley (Windsor). Walter passed on his love of sports, particularly golf to his grandson Grayden, and they played hundreds of rounds together where Walter taught his grandson the etiquette of the game. Walter also never missed any sporting events that Grayden was involved in, and poppa was Graydens biggest fan and best buddy.
Walter (and Judy) were active in the Scottish and Italian communities in North Bay, including the sons of Scotland, Robert Burns Club, Orange Hall, Granite Club, Davidi Club and many others in their younger years. WALTER was also proud lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge. For several years Walter was also a piper and drummer with the North Bay Legion Pipe Band.
WALTER was well known in the North Bay sporting community, including first division and semi professional (Sudbury) soccer, curling at the provincial level, including competing at the Northern Ontario Brier championships on 2 occasions. Walter was a proud member of the North Bay Golf and Country Club for over four decades, and it is fitting that Walters last act before entering the hospital was playing a round of golf with his buddies at the club. WALTER is a member of the North Bay sports Hall of Fame for his involvement in Soccer playing on a local North team that played in the provincial championships in the mid 1960s. He also gave back to the game by serving many years on the North Bay Soccer Association’s various committees.
At Walter’s request there will be no service, and a private family burial with his beloved Judy after cremation.
Special thanks go out to Dr. Jinnah, Dr. Halpert, the nursing staff at the NBRHC wards A3 and B3, and particularly the amazing staff at the Nipissing Serenity Hospice for the outstanding and compassionate care Walter received during his brief illness. Should expressions of sympathy be desired, Walter asked that they be made in the form of memorial contributions to the Nipissing Serenity Hospice in his name, as the hospice and its staff are truly a jewel within our community.
