John Baxter Whitefield

John Baxter Whitefield was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. John always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, John was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

John was born on November 11, 1932 at home in Cobourg, Ontario. His parents were Thomas and Rose Whitefield. John was raised in Kingston, Courtice and Cobourg. Always able to express himself well, John possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able, at all times, to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, John was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, John was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. John was raised with eight brothers, George, Sam, Tom, Robert, William, Walter, David and Raymond. John had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, John showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. John enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in soccer and in his spare time, he liked to toboggan and play with his brothers.

Friends and acquaintances found John an easy man to get to know. Those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. John was down-to-earth and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were Barrie Johnson, Dave Andrews and John Welsh. Later in life, he became friends with Maggie and Earl Rose, Doug and Dorothy Hopps, Bill and Irene Heard, Vern and Rita Beach, Irene and Squibb Lloyd, Marilyn and Carl Kemp.

On May 4, 1957 John exchanged wedding vows with Marilyn Jean Parkes at the St. Peters Anglican Church of Cobourg, Ontario. John was attentive to Marilyn's feelings, and he charmed Marilyn and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, John was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Youthful in his demeanor, John identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. John was blessed with three daughters, Barbara, Jill and P.G. He was also blessed with six grandchildren, Julie, Jennifer, Matthew, Ryan, Joshua and Ellicia, and two great grandchildren, Madison and Edan.

John was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, John’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, John was able to positively influence situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. John could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was as a Class A Mechanic. He was employed for 32 years with General Motors Canada.

John enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favourite pursuits were dancing, finance and politics.

John was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, John worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. Throughout his later years, John was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43.

John held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member of Northminster United Church.

Travel and vacations were experiences that John truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favourite vacations included an Alaskan Cruise, trips to Australia and New Zealand, and a Riverboat Cruise in Russia.

When John’s retirement finally came in 1992, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. In retirement, he found new pleasure in dancing, socializing with friends and travelling the world.

John passed away on March 3, 2015 at Hillsdale Terraces in Oshawa, Ontario. John fought a brave battle against Alzheimer's. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, daughters Barbara (Ken), Jill (Dave), P.G. (Yanni), his grandchildren Julie, Jennifer, Ryan, Matthew, Joshua and Ellicia, and his great grandchild Madison. Services were held at Oshawa Funeral Home. John was laid to rest in Thornton Cemetery in Oshawa, Ontario.

John was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If John had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember John Baxter Whitefield.

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In loving memory of John Baxter Whitefield

(November 11, 1932 - March 3, 2015)

John Baxter Whitefield (Retired mechanic of General Motors, Truck Plant, Oshawa) passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 at Hillsdale Terraces surrounded by his family. Beloved husband of Marilyn (Parkes) for 57 years. Dear father of Barb Vaillancourt (Ken), Jill Smallwood (Dave), and P.G. Whitefield (Yanni Pigatsiotopoulos).

Loving grandfather of Julie (Kyle), Jennifer (Edward), Ryan, Matthew, Joshua (Jenny) and Ellicia and great grandfather to Madison and Edan. Survived by his brothers George, Rob, Bill, David and Raymond. Predeceased by brothers Sam, Tom, and Walter. John spent his leisure time playing shuffle board, dancing, playing Euchre, managing his finances, spending time with family, and travelling the world with his wife. He was a proud member of the Oshawa Legion. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Society would be greatly appreciated. A sincere thank you to the wonderful and caring staff of Ocean View, Hillsdale Terraces. Visitation will be held at OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King Street West (905-721-1234) on Friday, March 6th from 7 – 9 p.m. and Saturday, March 7th from 10:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Service in the Chapel at 11:00 a.m. Online condolences may be made at www.oshawafuneralhome.com