Alexander Gilmour Dunbar

Age 94, of Halifax, died peacefully at the QE II Hospital on March, 10, 2017. Born in London, England in 1922, Alex was the son of Margaret and James Dunbar. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; his daughter, Hilary Bethell (Patrick) of Barbados; his son Laurence (Laurie) of Ottawa; his sister Margaret (Peggie) Hart of Hampton, England; his grandchildren, Daniel Bethell (Fiona), Jennifer Dunbar (Jeffrey) and Kristen Dunbar Tobin (Ryan); his great grandchildren, Christal and Catherine; his niece, Robin Smith (Paul) of Teddington, England and her two sons, Tom and James. Alex was loved and will be missed by all.

Educated in London and at the Manchester Grammar School, he served in the Royal Corps of Signals during WWII in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, rising to the rank of captain before landing in France attached to the American troops at Omaha Beach in June, 1944. At the end of the war, he served for a year in Eritrea re-establishing telephone communications.

Alex immigrated to Montreal in 1951. He loved driving and took the family on many great holidays to places in Canada and the United States. One of the most memorable was a trans-Canada camping trip in 1966 through Canada and back through the United States.

In 1969, Alex founded AG Dunbar Limited in Halifax selling pumps and sewage treatment plants throughout Atlantic Canada. He proved to be a successful business man and served as president of the company until he retired in 1992.

In retirement Alex continued to travel to numerous places around the world. He loved visiting Hilary’s family in Barbados, and Laurie’s family in Ottawa and at their cottage in PEI.

Throughout his business career and his retirement, Alex was involved with the Rotary Club, first in Montreal and then with the Halifax North West Club. He maintained this involvement up until his death. He was a Paul Harris Fellow, and earlier this year he was made an Honorary Life Member of Rotary International. He was a member of the Old Mancunians Association, the Halifax Board of Trade and a Life Member of the Canadian Professional Sales Association.

In his later years, Alex suffered from macular degeneration. The family is very grateful to the CNIB and particularly to CNIB Volunteer, Steve Daley, who faithfully helped Alex with many tasks that he could no longer do. Alex relied on Steve’s willing, generous support for some years.

Finally, the family wishes to thank Dr. Phillips and all the staff of Unit 7.4 of the QE II hospital for the wonderful care they gave to Alex during his final weeks.

Alex’s will be interred in the Wall of Remembrance in the Military Cemetery in Barbados at a later date.

A celebration of Alex’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive in Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3S OEI.