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​Gladys Walpole of Kincardine remembered for her quick wit, sharp memory, and love of family

Liz DadsonBy: Liz Dadson  February 4, 2025
​Gladys Walpole of Kincardine remembered for her quick wit, sharp memory, and love of family
Gladys Sarah Walpole (nee Fitzgerald) of Kincardine, died Feb. 2, 2025, with family by her side, after a brief, yet comfortable stay at the Huron Shores Hospice in Tiverton. She was 87.

Survived by her children, Franklin Edward Walpole (Deborah), and Glenda Iolene Walpole-Szabo (Joseph).

Fondly remembered by her grandchildren, Matthew Eldon Walpole (Colleen), Brent Levi Walpole Szabo (Lesley), Alyssa Margaret Walpole, Sarah Margaret Walpole Szabo, and Glenn Franklin Wilson Walpole (Catherine); and her great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Iris, and Henry. She will also be missed by her nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by her husband, Glenn Campbell Walpole (1992); her parents, William Edward Fitzgerald and Sarah Fitzgerald (nee Stanley); her siblings, Ethel ‘Iolene’ Bradley, William ‘Bill’ James Fitzgerald, Levi Edward Fitzgerald, and Orville Marwood Fitzgerald; as well as many brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Gladys attended Kincardine Public School and Kincardine High School. Her first job was at the Circle Bar Knitting Factory during the summer.

When she completed her schooling, Gladys worked at the Kincardine Box Factory, and once she was married, she worked on the farm. After moving into town, she worked at Stan Emmerton’s Motel, the Knotty Pine, the Sunset Restaurant and Quinn Florist.

Gladys took the most pride in her vocation as a rural mail carrier. She took over her father’s RR No. 4 mail route and worked it in all kinds of weather for more than 15 years. Some of her earliest memories were going on the mail route with her dad. She used to stand on the front seat of the car to be able to reach and carefully place the mail in the boxes. She could recite all the names from the beginning to the end of the route.

She enjoyed travelling with friends and family, and took many bus trips, cruises and road trips. Alaska and Ireland were favourites and she visited those locations multiple times.

Gladys loved music. She loved listening to country music, fiddle music, bagpipe tunes and Irish Jigs. She was very musical, herself, and played the piano, mandolin, Dobro guitar, and harmonicas. She sang at, and attended, many jamborees until the COVID-19 pandemic. She also enjoyed gardening, spending time outside and volunteering at the Kincardine Legion.

She attended the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band parade every Saturday night from a young age, but enjoyed it the most once her grandson, Glenn, started playing the pipes and her granddaughter, Alyssa, and great-nephew, Brandon, started playing the drums.

Gladys will be fondly remembered for her quick wit, sharp memory, and love of family.

The family thanks Dr. Jason Murray and his staff at the Hawthorne Community Clinic and Dr. Angela Cavanagh and the staff at the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Kincardine. A special thank you to Dr. Damian Gunaratne and all of the staff and volunteers at the Huron Shores Hospice for their compassionate care in the last days of Gladys’ life.

The funeral will be held at the Davey-Linklater Funeral Home, Kincardine, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, with visitation from Noon to 1 p.m., and the service to follow at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the Huron Shores Hospice, the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band or a charity of your choice.

Portrait and memorial on-line at www.daveylinklaterfuneralhome.com.

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