Dr. George Erskine Duff "Duff" Wilson

1904 - 1993  (88 years)

• Name	George Erskine Duff "Duff" Wilson
  Prefix	Dr.
  Historic Building	1852	44 Piper Street, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	It is suspected that this house was built circa 1844 but its recorded history begins in 1852 when the house was sold to John Watson, the owner of the largest factory in the village,.... Another past owner of the home was Dr. Duff Wilson, former Medical Officer of Health for Waterloo County.
  		Dr. Duff Wilson's home of Piper St., Ayr, Ontario about 1911
  Born	9 Apr 1904	Acton, Esquesing Twp., Halton Co., Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Elected Office	1948	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Medical Officer of Health for the Kitchener Department of Health
  Died	7 Feb 1993	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Buried	13 Feb 1993	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region	Bef 2012	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Interesting	life story, military, medical
  Military	WW2 - commander of the 12th Medical Company
  Name	Duff Wilson
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-338045
  Person ID	I338045	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Family	Margaret Reed,   b. 1906,   d. 1984  (Age 78 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F249149	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  George Erkine Wilson "Duff" Kitchener-Waterloo Record Photographic Negative Collection

  
  

• Notes

  Dr. G.E. 'Duff' Wilson One of Ayr's most respected citizens,. Dr. G. E. Duff Wilson passed away in Kitchener on February 7th. 1993. He was in his 89th year. Born in Acton, he graduated from the University of Toronto medical school in 1929. Upon graduation he moved to Ayr where he set up a practice. In 1942 ....Following the War he returned to Ayr and was appointed medical officer of health for Kitchener. When the Waterloo County health unit was formed in 1968 he headed it. retiring. in 1971. Despite his busy schedule. he was very active in the community. He was an ardent sportsman actively participating in the Ayr Tennis Club, swimming and skiing. A love of horticulture led him to spend countless hours planting and tending flower gardens and trees through projects taken on by the Ayr Horticultural Society. He was a. valued member and historian of Knox United Church where he served in several board capacities. The scouting movement also benefitted from his work. Dr. Wilson was the first person from the K-W area to serve on the University of Toronto senate from 1968 to 1972. When regional government was implemented in Waterloo Region in 1973. Dr. Wilson served the first term as a North Dumfries Township councillor for the Ayr ward. In 1979 Dr. Wilson was honoured as Ayr's citizen of the year . Predeceased, by his wife, the former Mary Reed. Surviving are two daughters Mrs. Bill (Janet) Trimble of London and Nancy Finlayson of London, a son Reed of Brockville: 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral service was held at Knox United Church, Ayr, on Saturday. February 13th. Interment Ayr Cemetery. The Ayr News 17 Feb 1993 pg 14 _____________________________ G.E. Duff Wilson was born in Acton, Ontario. He graduated in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1929 and interned at Toronto Western Hospital. He opened his practice in Ayr in 1930, taking post-graduate training in Yonkers, N.Y. He served overseas with the Royal Canadian Medical Corps which he joined in 1942. Lieutenant Colonel Wilson remained active with the Corps after the War. After taking a diploma in public health at the University of Toronto (1946), Wilson was appointed Medical Officer of Health for Kitchener in 1948. He served as Medical Officer of Health for the County of Waterloo from 1965 to 1971. Through the Ontario Medical Association, he sparked the Canadian Fitness Program. He was local historian for Ayr, President of the Ayr Horticultural Society and promoted tree planting. He was an elder and chorister at Knox United Church and he served on North Dumfries Township Council from 1973 to 1975. Honours included Ayr Citizen of the Year 1979, the Centennial Award, Ontario Volunteer Award and Celebration 88 certificate. Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

  
  

• Sources

  [S1217] Book - Historic Ayr Walking Tour. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration. Name: George Erskine Duff Date of Birth: 9 Apr 1904 Gender: Male Birth Place: Halton, Ontario, Canada Father's name: James Calvin Wilson Mother's name: Mary Elizabeth Duff [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . [Flat marker][A] Mary Reed Wilson/ 1906 - 1984/ [Flat marker][B] George Erskine Duff Wilson/ 1904 - 1993 + [veteran's poppy] [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

  
  

• Event Map

  Historic Building - 1852 - 44 Piper Street, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Born - 9 Apr 1904 - Acton, Esquesing Twp., Halton Co., Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Medical Officer of Health for the Kitchener Department of Health - 1948 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 7 Feb 1993 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 13 Feb 1993 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth