It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Hugh Malcolm (Max) Wallis, F.R.C.S. (E&C), F.A.C.S. at the age of 89 years, beloved husband of the late Barbara Elizabeth Wallis (1922-2009). Hugh passed away peacefully on April 23rd at Westpark Healthcare Centre in Toronto.
A Celebration of life, honouring both Hugh and Barbara will be held at the Worsely St. Chapel of the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, Barrie, Ontario, on Sunday May 1, 2011 at 1:00 p.m., with visitation at noon.
Donations may be made to Westpark Healthcare Centre http://www.westpark.org/waystogive/memorialtribute.html in lieu of flowers if desired.
Hugh is preceded in death by his brother, Colin C. Wallis and his parents, Hugh Malcolm Sr. and Mary Wallis.
Hugh was born on Dec. 21, 1921 in Belfast, Ireland and immigrated to Canada in 1926 with his family. He attended Upper Canada College on scholarship from 1932-1938 and attained his M.D from the University of Toronto in 1944 when he began his internship at the Toronto Western Hospital.
Upon completion of his internship, Hugh joined the army and became engaged in medical discharges. He was then accepted as a surgical resident in Oxford, England and attained his R.F.C. S. designation from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1951. Hugh returned to Toronto to establish his practice and join the surgical staff at the Northwestern General Hospital in 1954, where he remained until 1977. He subsequently joined the Rehabilitation Staff at WSIB in 1977.
Barbara was born in Midland, Ontario on July 3, 1922 and is preceded death by her parents, Herman and Irene Scheetz and by her brother, William Scheetz and her sister-in-law Joan Scheetz.
Barbara won a scholarship to train in nursing at the Toronto Western Hospital where she graduated and went on to obtain a second scholarship for Public Health nursing, which she graduated from in 1944. She first joined the Victorian Order of Nurses and later accepted a position working as an industrial nurse for the Frigidaire Company in Leaside. Barbara went on to provide years of service to the Northwestern General Hospital, first as a Volunteer Fund Raiser and then working as a nurse in Emergency and Occupational Health.
Hugh and Barbara were married at Walmer Road Baptist Church on May 29, 1948. They were devoted to one another and enjoyed a wonderful marriage lasting more than 61 years.
Both Hugh and Barbara dedicated their lives to helping others and finally retired to Port Severn in 1986 where they loved living on Georgian Bay.
They are survived by their devoted children and their spouses, Peter Malcolm Wallis and Marcia Smith-Wallis, Catherine Wallis-Smith and John Currie Smith, Susan Wallis-Hanson and Issa Hanson, Jane Turner and Paul Turner and Barbara’s sister Eleanor Caird and brother-in-law Jim Caird and sister-in-law, Joan Wallis.
They will be dearly missed by their grandchildren Amanda Day, Megan Hughson, John Wallis, Justin Belanger, Caitlin Hart, Simon Belanger, Timothy Smith , Carly Turner, Jennifer Turner and Jordan Hanson and their great –grandchildren, Rowan Hughson, Dean Hart, Isla Day and Salomon Hughson.
Both Barbara and Hugh were lovingly attended by Bernadette Ross, Erdine Roper, Millicent Toot, Alexandra Geilich, Patty Persaud, Denise Bonadia, Valerie Wong Choi, Desiree Adams, Deborah Spanisclaus and Leila Johnson. The extraordinary care, kindness, dedication, companionship and love these special caregivers shared with our parents touched both their hearts and enhanced the joy and capacity of their lives in their final years. We are truly grateful.