Donald Wallace Besley, age 86, of Stratford passed away peacefully at the Stratford General Hospital on October 3, 2019. Born in Shelburne, son of the late Lorne and Grace Besley. Don came to Stratford from Shelburne with the Royal Bank of Canada in 1953. He owned and operated the Credit Bureau of Stratford from 1956 – 1971 and later D. W. Besley Bookkeeping. He was an agent for ReMax for many years and a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Don trained and raced Standardbred horses for many years.
Beloved husband of the late Jean (Holmes) who predeceased him April 14, 2008. Loving father of Nancy Roney. Grandfather of Rebecca (Craig), Brittany Van Straaten (Will), Kelly (Kaden), Erica and great grandfather of Ari, Charlie and Ben. Brother of Eldred Besley (Pat) and Shirley Brown. Also survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Sheila Besley, Robert Holmes, Sylvia Knechtel (Don), Ruth Kirk, Ella Ballantyne, Linda Holmes (Sandy) and many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by brothers Elvin (Verna) and Gordon Besley, by sister-in-law Lois Besley and brother-in-law Keith Brown.
Friends and relatives will be received at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Sunday, October 6, from 6-8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Monday at 11 a.m. Rev. Mark Wolfe will officiate. Interment at Avondale Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to SickKids Foundation or St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church through the funeral home. 519.271.7411 www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
