Obituary of Walter David ADLAM

High Flight Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence; hovering there, I've chased the shouting wing along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never a lark, or even eagle flew- And, while the silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. Pilot Officer, John Gillespie Magee Jr. 1941 ADLAM, Walter David, Flt. Lt. R.C.A.F. retired. December 19, 1919 - August 15, 2016 It is with heavy hearts we announce that our husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather has slipped the surly bonds of earth. Walter David Adlam is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty Luella Adlam (nee Sherwood), and his daughters and son, Susan Christie, Michael Adlam, Wendy Adlam, and son in law Mario Lowi. David was a loving, caring and guiding Grandfather to Kari Gilmour-Pomeroy, Sarah Christie, Brooke Gilmour, Hannah Christie, and proud Great- Grandfather to Myles, Chase, Jett, Chloee, Frederick and Piper. Also, a caring Uncle to his niece Judy Petracsek (nee Yule). Predeceased by his mother and father, Catherine Sarah Ann Evans and Walter Edwin William Adlam, and his sister, Audrey Helen Yule (nee Adlam). Proud and humbled by his military service in WWII, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force April 19th, 1941 and was Honorably Released at the end of the war, September 24th, 1945. Upon receiving his Wings in 1942 at the age of 23 his ranking in the top 10 pilots, the RCAF kept him home to instruct further pilots at Camp Borden, after receiving his instructional training at Trenton Air Force Base. Leaving Halifax on the QE in 1943 he was stationed with the 410 Cougar Squadron, in Vendreuille France, Amiens and Gilze Reijn Holland piloting at night the Mosquito with the 410 Squadron Crest and Motto "Noctivaga", and was in Holland on V Day. A view of his log book reveals he piloted the Tiger Moth, Harvard (training), Spitfire, to name a few, and the Vigilant (returning Prince Barnhard of The Netherlands plane to Apeldoorn) was one story that was shared at many of the 410 Sqd. reunions that he and Betty attended in Canada and in Europe. Post war, he received his Bachelor of Science of Forestry at the University of Toronto 1946 - 50, and upon graduating found employ with the Department of Lands and Forests now Ministry of Natural Resources, with positions at various Conservation Authorities in Ontario, noteworthy, the Cataraqui Region from 1966 to 1972 as their first Resource Manager to his retirement from the Ministry in Ottawa as District Manager at the age of 63. He loved his job, passionate about natural resource management - forestry, provincial parks, fish and wildlife, mineral resources, forest fires prevention, Crown lands, and overseeing diversified programs of sustainability. David and Betty enjoyed an active social life in the small village of Manotick forming lifelong friendships with everyone they met, and discovering old ones from the past. They returned to live in Kingston in 2009 to be closer to family. If you ever take a stroll through Gould Lake, Lemoine's Point, or the Little Cataraqui Conservation Area trails, pause for a moment, and give him a nod. The family extends sincere gratitude to the staff at KGH (Emergency and Kidd 7) for their exemplary kind, compassionate and honourable care that they provided to Mr. Adlam and his family during his final days. A Memorial Reception in Celebration of his Life will be held in the RECEPTION CENTRE of the JAMES REID FUNERAL HOME, 1900 John Counter Boulevard, Kingston, on Saturday, August 27 between the hours of 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. As expressions of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to, Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, 1641 Perth Road, P.O. Box 160, Glenburnie, ON, K0H 1S0, 1-613-546-4228 "Per Ardua Ad Astra."