James Canfield Lefler

James Canfield Lefler, P.Eng

Born Woodstock August 4, 1930, died at Woodingford Lodge December 2, 2020, predeceased by parents Ruth and Lorne, sisters Mary Coad and Betty Coad.

For such a long-lived life, Jim was particularly proud of his early athletic accomplishments playing football for WCI, Woodstock ORFU, University of Toronto engineering football, and sharing stories of fun and friendships made as member of Woodstock Curling Club for 42 years (serving as president in 1970).

Growing up in Woodstock, Jim worked summers as a labourer for James A. Vance General Contractor, choosing to study engineering at University of Toronto (5T6 Civil). He was member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, becoming president in his graduating year. He returned to Woodstock to work for Vance General Contractor, in 1963 with two partners purchasing James A Vance Construction Ltd., and retiring as president in 1993. He also served on Woodstock Committee of Adjustment, and YM/YWCA Board, (he supervised the construction of the current Y facility in 1961.)

Jim was founding member of regional (London) chapter of Canadian Society for Civil Engineers and served on the history committee. He become a Fellow of the CSCE in 1996, and eventually a Life Member. Jim was awarded the CPR medal by the Engineering Institute of Canada in 1999 for his contributions to the CSCE and the EIC. He also served on the London Camp 11 Committee (awarding the Iron Ring, the ritual of the calling of the engineer).

Jim enjoyed the odd scotch and water, the late-night hot dog barbeque or sharing the infamous JC coffee with friends. He loved jazz, books on Canadian history and train trip vacations like the Rocky Mountaineer or Agawa Canyon. Later in life he gained a begrudging appreciation for basketball thanks to his grandsons.

Survived by wife Pat, son Jim (Donna Buchan), daughter Susan, grandsons Andrew (Brianna VanderGriendt), Patrick, and brother Bob, plus many nieces, nephews from Lefler, Coad and Parkes families.

The family is grateful for the kind care Jim received these last few years, first at PeopleCare in Tavistock and since March at Woodingford Lodge. Donations to honour Jim’s memory to either of these homes would be appreciated and may be arranged through the Brock and Visser Funeral Home (519-539-0004).

Thanks to COVID we will hope to have a celebration in Jim’s life in 2021. There will be scotch!

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