Walter “Kenneth” Dudley
June 10, 1925 - August 19, 2023
Funeral Details: Private Family Arrangements
Dad “Ken” passed away in Barrie, Ont, on Saturday, August 19, 2023. He leaves behind his 6 children, Richard (Wendy), Suzi (Scott), John (Laurel), Lenny (Wei), David (Louise), Dyan (Mark) and Dennis who left this world too early at the age of 7; and his 11 grandchildren, Amanda, Robert and Kayleb, Candice, Jason, Angelina and Isabella, Chloe and Nathan, Caileigh and Maddy. Ken was predeceased by his brother Wayne. Ken was married to Rachel Milot, mother of his 7 children and they were together for many years until they parted ways but remained friendly as the years passed. Ken went to school in New Toronto and lived with his dear parents, Walter Leslie and Beatrice Thelma (nee Engel) on a street where 2 of his uncles lived. Those days were very memorable for Ken.
The family then moved to a beautiful new home near St. Georges on the Hill, and his father worked hard and created a leather tannery “Omemee Tanning” in Toronto to supply the tanned goods to shoe manufacturers. Ken worked as a salesperson, building and creating sales partners for many years, allowing Ken to provide for his family. His career involved travelling throughout the world which he loved and spoke of often. It was the experience of meeting new people while learning and observing the culture. He enjoyed eating and loved good food. Big fan of Anthony Bourdain.
He lived in New York City for 10 years, in his earlier years, and he had a few different jobs but he loved exploring the Jazz clubs in the evening. Ken loved Jazz.. While he lived there, he found a great and beloved friend Jack Delaney, and ken became a member of their family for life.
Ken developed long lasting friendships with his business colleagues and these friendships lasted until his passing. Two of his younger friends, Alan Thompson and John Sax kept in touch with him and communicated with his family as ken developed dementia and his memory was less clear. Ken cared for them deeply as did they to Ken.
Dad was calm and well spoken, he had a library of quotes stored in his brain to share when the moment was right. He was very quick witted, charming and when he met people, he brought laughter to their day, if for only 5 minutes and he was genuinely remembered. Dad loved life and loved his life in Belfountain, Ontario, where he had built a home overlooking the Credit River. This was his favourite place in the world and where the family lived for most of their lives. He provided the best Christmas Day that anyone could imagine. It was magical and a way for him to show his family how much he loved them. Dad retired in Mexico and after taking ill, returned to Ontario and lived at a small retirement home which he didn’t enjoy! A friend of his daughter Suzi, Char, took on the caregiver role for 5 years and Dad loved living at her home, as it reminded him of Belfountain. Char and her family, along with Jimmy, provided many wonderful days for Dad to live out his older years. He then moved into a Long term care home in Barrie, where at Millcreek Care Centre, he received excellent care until his final breath. He called it home and always said how nice everyone was to him and this went both ways.
And now he is gone, and with him so many stories of a life well lived.
Dad came from a family where “keep a stiff upper lip” was the family cultural motto and thus Dad struggled emotionally to connect with his family. He compensated by providing in other ways. He secretly provided t money for my grandmother in Quebec when she resided in a seniors assisted living room and even my mom had no knowledge of this until many years later. He could be very kind, loved animals and children but he found it difficult to express his feelings of love for his children. After spending the last 10 years with him, being his go to caregiver, along with my husband Scott, I know he truly loved his children and was proud of all of them. He wanted them to be happy and he enjoyed listening to me talk of his family and grandchildren. He had so many memories of travel and business and he was always trying to find another business opportunity, but with this, his family seemed to come second place. My Mom was the ROCK and she kept the home fires burning and my Dad always told me that Mom was the greatest mother to their children and also, the best pie maker, second to none and the family would agree.
Peace out Dad - see you on the other side.
Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.peacefultransition.ca
Peaceful Transition Simcoe
Suzi Schultz (Dudley)
Posted on: Wednesday, August 23, 2023My dad lived a full life. He had family with him on the Saturday that he passed. He left this world in a peaceful state, as if he fell asleep until his final breath. I had many great days with my Dad in the later stage of his life. I will always remember his quick wit and how he was able to bring laughter into any conversation. Miss you Dad, especially when I would take you for a ride in your wheelchair and you would comment on the buildings and complex. You said the government should make more places like this, as it was a village setting and it felt like home. Beautiful memories and my head is full of adventures we had over the last 10 years. Scott so appreciated your comment, “you are a good man” and you would say it every time you saw him. Just so you know, I have been listening to your jazz loves on the radio. I hope you are hearing it too and tapping your feet and hands! Love Suzi, Scott and Mom XOXO
Suzi Schultz (Dudley)
Posted on: Friday, August 25, 2023Dad,
Has been a difficult week but we formed such strong and long lasting memories over the last ten years. Scott and I will miss you and I am filled with so many different memories and most were of laughter, music and the stories you had from your early years, and the travel which you loved so much. We all inherited your love of food. Listening to the great jazz musicians and singers going to work and I can see your hands and feet tapping to the beat. With love in our hearts, thank you for all the good times. You always thanked me so much for all Scott and I did for, and you always had kind words. XOXO – Suzi Q
Scott Smith
Posted on: Friday, August 25, 2023Ken, I will always remember your comment, “Best lunch ever” whenever we served you lunch. I remember seeing a lunch bag at Old Navy and laughing, as the saying on the bag was, “best lunch ever” and I should have bought it for you.
Missed but not forgotten.
Scott
Richard Dudley
Posted on: Friday, August 25, 2023Well Dad I will tell you and I’m sure you already new that Wendy loved you too now that the both of you are gone but not forgotten from my life the world is a lessor place. I hope you meet up there and have some fun until we see each other again I love you Pops and always will
Michele Johnson Stamoulis
Posted on: Saturday, August 26, 2023……I am so sorry to learn of your dad’s passing. He was a vey special part of my life and was always considered to be another uncle. Pease extend my condolences to your mom and tell her I think of her fondly and I wish all of you a peaceful start to a life without your very special dad
Eileen Kenyon
Posted on: Saturday, August 26, 2023My condolences to all the family “Uncle” Ken was love by my family (Delaney) I think of him often. Peace and comfort to all
Jason Dudley
Posted on: Saturday, August 26, 2023While I didn’t get to know my grandfather until later in my childhood, when I did meet him, I met a man who was quick witted, intelligent and filled with “Don Rickels-like” humour. He was also a great admirer of Jazz music and continued to foster my interest in that particular genre with his many stories of yesterdays spent in New York City during the height of the music in late 40s. Although, I wasn’t able to be with him and my family during his passing he will be greatly missed and always remembered by
Nancy Delaney
Posted on: Saturday, August 26, 2023Ken, was truly my Dad’s best friend and a true member of the Delaney family. We (my mother and father, Lori, and myself) could not wait until summer came and we could go to to Buffalo to see Uncle Charlie and then to Canada to visit you all, or when you would come to NJ. Wonderful memories of those days. I loved playing in the river in Belfountain and you all coming to NJ and the year we went to the Jersey Shore and visiting all the relatives. These are treasured memories we hold dear. In later years we enjoyed talking to him on the phone from Mexico or Canada. Knowing you all has been a treasure. May he Rest in Peace. XOXOXO
Candice Schultz
Posted on: Sunday, August 27, 2023I’ve reflected a lot since you passed Grandpa, and so many memories have surfaced that I will never forget. Firstly, food. Every family meal you took us to; the trips to Mandarin, Benihana, and Vesuvios. I am 100% sure I got my appetite and love of food from you. I always tell people how my Grandpa would take me out and always tell me ‘It’s a pleasure just watching you eat’. The trip to Florida when I was 6, I remember so much from that trip; the hotel, seeing pelicans and the ocean, watching the Challenger explode from our hotel room, the Minnie Mouse doll you bought me that I still own. It was quite a trip for a little girl my age and the only time I’ve been to Disney in my 44 trips around the sun. Years went by where we didn’t see each other, but these memories remain some of my favorites. Rest peacefully Grandpa. Hope the food up there is good.
John-Paul Sax
Posted on: Sunday, August 27, 2023Ken was my oldest (both senses) and best friend for almost all my working life. Nearly twenty years my senior we first met in Paris at the international leather week probably in 1967 or 1968. Very different people from very different backgrounds but for some reason we hit it off almost from the word go! He shortly became the agent for Canada for the leather company I worked for and from then on the business association and friendship grew and grew. Subsequently I started my own business and the relationship deepened as much of what we did was entwined together. The friendship endured some tough times on both sides as our businesses rose up fell down and rose up again. Arguments and disagreements mainly in business never bothered that close friendship for very long. From the beginning I learnt so much from Ken which then blossomed into a mutual respect. Always there for advice but only when asked and most important of all never judgmental and always supportive of whatever I did. Crazy or not Ken was always there.
And did we have some fun! Whatever we were doing and wherever we were you could be sure that there would be laughter, sharp reparte coupled with lots of good food and maybe just the occasional drink. I can remember some awful headaches from a jointly loved liquor called B&B. Brandy and Benedictine – tried it recently – awful!
I remember clearly staying in the wonderful wooden house Ken built by a river in Belfountain. I slept in the cellar next to the roaring dragon boiler and would come up to find a house full of happy Dudley children eating waffles and pancakes. Not all that followed with the family was so happy in subsequent years but in his dotage Ken found again that loving family link thanks to his daughter Suzi who has been a rock for him these last few years. He always loved you Suzi and always talked about you the most followed by your siblings who he followed and talked about with me all his life with pride. Sleep well my old friend and never forget when dealing with all those leather people in heaven when all else fails “dazzle them with footwork.”
Laurel Dudley
Posted on: Sunday, August 27, 2023Ken, I will always remember you as a true gentleman. The things you saw in your 98 years were amazing, and you never neglected to share stories of those times. I will miss the twinkle in your eye and pointing your finger at someone when you were about to say something funny (or naughty) You will always be in my heart.
Love Laurel
Leonard Dudley
Posted on: Friday, September 1, 2023I really don’t know what to say here I’m speechless lol Dad that’s a 1st hey.
My father was a great great man he taught me how to realize that we as humans are all the same, he would invite people from all over this planet, to sell leather to the rag trade, but he wouldn’t put his agents in hotels he’d bring them home to Belfountain where as a family we would sit down for a great feast that my awesome Mom would make, usually roast beef and her famous wonderful excellent delicious pies.
It was here I seen that we as humans are all the same no matter our color, our ,smells, our cultures. This was the greatest gift my father gave to me. I married a wonderful Asian girl that gave us two beautiful, wonderful daughters who dad loved deeply. Leather King what can I say you were and always , always will be with me in my heart and soul you created me you mounded me , and I know sure as shit I let you down so many times in our times together, but you never ever let me down. I could go on for a lifetime here but , I’m sure we will talk everyday, afternoon. Evening, and nighttime before I sleep I have your back as you always haf mine I love and miss you deeply Leather King, till we definitely meet again. I love you pop’s.