Roy passed away peacefully at home on January 23, 2025 at the age of 89. He was born on April 10, 1935 in Oldham, Lancashire, England. He is predeceased by his parents, Annie and George Dickinson, and close cousins, Pat and Kath Hynes. Survived by his wife of 39 years, Pat; daughters, Michelle (Dina) Dickinson and Kim (Rod) Fraser, and son, David (Jennifer) Dickinson; stepsons, David and Steven Hileman, and granddaughter, Jennifer, to whom he has always been Papa. Relatives in England include his cousin, Jade Norbury. Educated at Rotherham Technical College, England, Roy immigrated to Canada in 1956 and was employed in the Engineering Department at Canadian Westinghouse, Hamilton, until becoming a High School teacher with the Hamilton Board of Education in 1965. He taught at Delta and Sir Winston Churchill High Schools. He moved to the Halton Board of Education in 1972 where he taught at Blakelock High School in Oakville and finished his career as a teacher and Department Head at Pearson High School in Burlington. His hobbies included astronomy, chess, and reading. Having grown up as a young child in the North of England during WWII, he developed a keen interest in aviation, especially the Lancaster bomber which he had watched practising over a local reservoir. He continued to express this interest by creating model airplanes and flying gliders. He was a lover of smooth jazz, classical music and theatre, especially the Stratford Festival. He took up the saxophone in his 70s. He loved his dogs, especially several Border Collies, a Golden Retriever and a Golden Doodle. He was an active member of the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton. He was known among friends and family as always being ready with a joke or pun.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at KITCHING, STEEPE & LUDWIG FUNERAL HOME, 146 Mill St. N., Waterdown, on Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. A celebration of Roy’s life will be held at a later date at the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton. Roy will be laid to rest at Garden Lane Cemetery, 7th Concession and Garden Lane, Flamborough.
If desired, as an expression of sympathy, donations can be made to the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton or Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation – Hamilton General Hospital.
Please sign the Tribute Wall at kitchingsteepeandludwig.com
