Obituary of Jack D. Umphrey

Jack D. Umphrey May 25, 1925 – January 23, 2012 Aloha Jack! Jack passed away January 23, 2012 at his Diamond Head home in his beloved Hawaii at age 86 following a 4 month battle with cancer. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, to Edwin “Jeff” and Hilda Victoria (Mansell) Umphrey, he grew up in Oshawa, Ontario. He enlisted in The Royal Canadian Navy in 1944. In 1950 he married Patricia Walsh of New York who predeceased him. In 1955 he followed his father into the automotive business obtaining a GM dealership, London Motor Products, selling Pontiac, Cadillac, Buick and GMC Trucks, a very successful business in London, Ontario. His father was a founder of General Motors of Canada and became an automotive legend who was inducted into the Automobile Hall of Fame in 1976 joining icons such as Henry Ford, Louis Chevrolet and David Buick. As well as a car enthusiast, Jack was a passionate volunteer and community leader serving as President of several organizations including London Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, London Safety Council and a life member of The London Club and the London Hunt & Country Club. He was also a gifted writer and public speaker often addressing groups on behalf of important causes. Smitten by the beauty of the islands, he moved his family to Hawaii in 1967 where he would own and operate several businesses. In 1987 he married Barbara Hughes. They loved the island life spending time between homes in Honolulu and Kona, on the Big Island. Jack was owner-operator of Hawaii Petroleum Distributors for Texaco and Tesoro headquartered in Hilo. They also had a cottage in Oakwood, Ontario until 2006. An adventurer, his many hobbies over the years included flying his own aircraft, skiing, boating, deep-sea fishing, scuba-diving, hunting, golf and travel. Always on the go, he would often hop a flight to visit family in California and Ontario. Recently, he and Barbara enjoyed a new residence at The Villages, Florida where they have many friends. He leaves his loving and devoted wife, Barbara, siblings: Ron Umphrey (Jean), June McKay, Shirley Wynne (Tom), and four children: Ellen Miller (Bruce), Ann Umphrey, Leslie Doyle, John Umphrey, and 8 grandchildren all of whom adored their “Poppa”. Friends are invited to visitation on Thursday, February 2nd from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, where the funeral service will be conducted on Friday, February 3rd at 11:00 a.m. Interment at York Cemetery in Toronto will take place Saturday, February 4th at 11:00 a.m. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Jack are asked to consider The Canadian Cancer Society, Mission Services of London or a charity of your choice.