WHITEHOUSE, Fred Douglas - passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Yarmouth Regional Hospital, at the age of 90. Fred was the youngest child of the late Frederick and Amy (Hamilton) Whitehouse and also the only surviving member of his immediate family. He was born at Yarmouth Regional Hospital on March 1, 1925.
At the age of 14 he moved from his home in Pleasant Valley, Yarmouth County into the town of Yarmouth, to attend high school and work at the old Grand Hotel.
On Feb. 23rd, 1943 he enlisted at East Camp, just a few days shy of his 18th birthday. Fred really hoped to become a pilot, so he chose the RCAF. He then left to take his training at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. While there he became extremely ill with rheumatic fever. After being hospitalized for many months, he returned home to be medically discharged from East Camp, 11 months to the day from when he had enlisted.
Fred taught school for one year at a one room school house in Sandford, Yarmouth County. He then took a job with the Nova Scotia Provincial Government working in the Department of Public Health. During his 40 years with the Provincial Government, he was a founding member of NSGEU and served on the board. He also chaired the Provincial Pensions Committee for 3 years and was instrumental in improving pension benefits for Provincial Civil Servants.
Fred had a wonderful volunteer history which included being a scout master, a member of the Kiwanis Club, a ‘Past Master’ of Scotia Lodge, AF & AM, and was active in both the YMCA and the Yarmouth Golf & Country Club. He was also a very involved member of Zion United Baptist Church for many years, either heading up or serving on various committees, teaching an adult Sunday school class and singing in the choir.
Fred had a beautiful bass voice and sang throughout his life, whether it was at church or in groups such as the “Barber Shoppers”. He also performed on stage at the Yarmouth Arts Regional Council.
During his years as a public health inspector he had many sidelines to keep him busy. Some of these activities were stamp collecting, coin collecting, buying and selling antiques, a small real estate company called ‘Coastline Properties’, getting into auctioneering and last, but not least, his writing. Fred wrote and published 4 books: 2 in hard copy and 2 available online. He was also prolific with poetry, writing hundreds of poems throughout his life, which went to those dear to him. (Another favourite pastime was playing the stock market.)
Fred was predeceased by his first wife Amy (Sanders); eldest son Brian Wade Whitehouse of Yarmouth; sisters Doris (Clyde) Gray and C. Phyllis (Lyman) Nickerson; brothers Herbert (Admah) and Sidney (Alvera) and Stephen.
Fred is survived by his second wife Betty “Mum”; daughter Cheryl (Ross) Burchell; sons Gregory (Ida) and Glenn (Jessica). He is also survived by Betty’s 4 children – daughters Lyndell (Wim) and Tammy (Paul), sons Phillip and John. He is survived by 3 granddaughters – Meaghan, Maia (Matt) and Channing (Marc); 2 grandsons – Trayton (Skye) and Wyatt; 2 step grandsons – Jason (Daphne) and Jeremy (Denise) Amon and 5 step great grandchildren. Through Betty he is survived by numerous step grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lastly, he is survived by several nieces and nephews, plus his sister-in-law Rosaline.
Fred’s remains have been cremated and a memorial service will take place in the chapel at Sweeny’s Funeral Home on February 20th at 11:00 am. There will be no flowers, including from family. It was Fred’s wish that donations be made to the Salvation Army. Donations can be made in person at 103 Brunswick St., Yarmouth, NS or by mail to P.O. Box 714, Yarmouth, NS, B5A 4K3. These donations can also be made through Sweeny’s Funeral Home.