Donald R. McKillican,
C.D., B.A., M.Div.,
M. Th., D. Min.
Major The Reverend Dr. Donald Royce McKillican, Presbyterian minister, educator, and military chaplain, died Sunday 20 March, 2016 in his 93rd year.
Born in Alliston, Ontario, in May 1923, Donald McKillican was the first son of David and Emily (Latimer) McKillican. Rev. McKillican married Anna May Little in September 1947 and was predeceased by his dearly cherished wife in 1982. He is predeceased by his sister Joyce Lugg (Cyril) and remembered by their daughters: Doreen, Brenda, Joan and Marilyn. He is predeceased by brothers Douglas (Shirley) and Kenneth (Marie) and nephew David. He is remembered by Marie and her son Mark (Tiffany) and their children Ethan and Joshua. He was predeceased by his dearly loved wife Gladys W. Watts (nee Hollinger), whom he married in December 1984. He is survived by brother Bernal (Marge) and their children Boyd (Mary) great nephew Alexander and niece Andrea, by step-children Gordon and SueAnne Watts and step-grandchildren Genevieve (Andrew Epp), James (Sarah), Joel, and Jonathan (Melissa) Watts, and three great-grandchildren.
Following elementary and high school in Alliston, Don enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941. He went overseas in December 1942 and served in 423 Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Squadron until war’s end. Returning home, he attended the Veterans’ Rehabilitation School in Toronto. Don graduated from University College, The University of Toronto in May 1950 and from Knox College in May 1953. Following ordination at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Markham on 13 May 1953, Rev. McKillican was called to the Markham and Stouffville charge, serving to 1959. From 1955 to 1956, he attended New College, University of Edinburgh. In 1962, Knox College awarded him a Masters of Theology degree. A strong advocate of life-long learning, Don received a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Seminary, University of Chicago in June 1991.
Always keen to share his calling and knowledge, Don was dean of students at Knox College from 1959 to 1968, a member of the Presbyterian Church’s Board of Missionary and Deaconess Training School and Ewart College, and the General Assembly’s Committee on Recruitment. He also served as Chairman of the General Assembly’s Board of Education from 1960 to 1971.
Don left Knox in 1968 to become Registrar and Dean of Student Services at the new Georgian College, Barrie. In 1983, he became Principal of the Barrie Campus and Senior Academic Officer. In February 1987, he was appointed Principal Emeritus and was commissioned to write the 25-year history of the College. Education in the Marketplace, A History of Georgian College, 1967-1992 was published in 1992.
Don maintained an active association with the military, serving in The Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps. From 1953 to 1974, he served as Chaplain in The Toronto Scottish Regiment, The Queen Mother’s Own. The Regiment named him Honorary Chaplain for life on 15 September 2002. He also served as Chaplain of The Grey and Simcoe Foresters, 1974-8, The Barrie Veterans’ Club, 1987-2005, the Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto, 1990-93 and the Huronia Branch, Canadian Airborne Forces Association from 1998 to the present.
Memorial contributions may be made to Knox College, 59 St. George Street, Toronto, or, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Barrie, ON. A funeral service to celebrate Don’s life and witness will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 47 Owen Street, Barrie, ON, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Rick Horst, on Thursday March 24, 2016 at 2 p.m. with visitation from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. Visitation also at Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley Street, on Wednesday 23 March from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Spring interment at Barrie Union Cemetery.
“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”