Passed away peacefully on February 18, 2021 at Georgian Bay General Hospital, Midland, Ontario in his 88th year. Beloved husband of Barbara and brother-in-law to Jeanne (Toob) van Dalen and Sandra (Walter) Heathers. David has two nephews Kevin (Christine) van Dalen and Evan (Jessica) Heathers as well as three great nephews, Andrew, Emma, and Conor. David was predeceased by his father, Arthur William Boyden, his mother Anne Boyden, his brother John Boyden and sister Isabel (Russell) Shaw who together had a son named Chad.
David was born in Woodstock, Ontario and went to school in Stratford. He was a sports enthusiast and excelled in contact sports and golfing. He also enjoyed boating.
In the early 70’s, he opened a Parcel Delivery Service, eventually selling it to a USA based firm moving into Canada. In 1996, he became a licensed Tower Crane Operator (Hoisting Engineer) with assignments in Toronto and Sarnia. In the early 80’s, he opened fast-food outlets in Toronto and Hamilton serving hot dogs and fish & chips. Starting in 1996, David worked for eight years assembling motorcycles for Cycle World in their Mississauga warehouse which was eventually sold by the owner.
Throughout his working life, David enjoyed volunteering as a Marshall at golf courses in Mississauga and Wasaga Beach. Having moved to Wasaga Beach in 2008, he became a volunteer at the Collingwood Marine Hospital in the Diagnostic Imagery Department, retiring ten years later. In September 2013, he was presented with a Corporation of Wasaga Beach pin by the then mayor of Wasaga Beach.
With Barbara, he enjoyed riding his motorcycle to live theatre destinations in Ontario and Rider and Harley Rallies (Nova Scotia, Pennsylvania and Sturgis) held in Canada and the USA. Together, they also toured the USA with trips to Arizona, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and New York City. Trips to Europe included such sites as Switzerland (Basel), Austria (Vienna), Venice and Murano, Florence, Pisa, The Vatican, Athens, the Greek Islands and Rhodes, The French Riviera (Nice), Monaco (Monte Carlo), Portugal (Albufeira) as well as two River Boat Cruises, Prague to Budapest and Paris to Barcelona.
They were married in Acapulco, March 9, 1990 and over a 20 year period visited Neuvo Vallarta, Mexico for their annual winter holiday. David thrived on adventure and his warm hugs, smiles and laughter will be sincerely missed by all who knew him.
A special thanks is extended to the staff of the Georgian Bay Seniors Lodge in Penetanguishene for their skill and understanding in caring for us in the final weeks of David’s life.
Cremation has already taken place. No celebration of life is planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Dignified Funeral Alternatives, Barrie, ON 888-322-7222