Following fifty gratifying years living at Oxtongue, Haliburton, ON, James Billie Service passed away peacefully at Algonquin Grace Hospice, Huntsville, ON. August 24, 2022. Bill was born November 21, 1928 in Ingersoll, ON to John Byron Service and Vida Marie Hockey. At his bride’s home near Burgessville, ON on March 17 1951 he married Loretta Alice ‘Marie’ Warboys daughter of Glen Warboys and Laura Lowes. For a few years they resided on his parents’ farm in Dereham Twp. Oxford, ON and later moved to Tillsonburg, ON where Marie worked in the office at the hospital. Bill drove can milk trucks and then bulk milk trucks for Brant Ox Transport and later Noblewood Transport at Holbrook, ON and was manager at the time of moving to Oxtongue in 1972.
They purchased Brant’s Snack Bar on Hwy #60 and ran the restaurant two years. In 1974 they sold and moved across the highway and then in 1979 they moved next door where Bill resided until a week before he passed. To his great sorrow Marie, his beloved wife of over 66 years passed away August 11, 2017 in Toronto. She was born near Burgessvile, ON on August 18. 1932. Their burials were in Tillsonburg Cemetery along side their only child David Byron Service 1953-1971.
During the five decades Bill and Marie were avid snowmobilers and fishermen. They were involved with the Algonquin Snowmobile Club and enjoyed the Fish Derby. Bill served on the Oxtongue Fire Department for 35 years of which at least 15 years as captain and deputy chief two years. For several years Bill drove school bus to Irwin Memorial School in Dwight and was the maintenance man at Timbertrail on Hwy.#60. Marie worked for several years at the Beacon at Dwight as well as Timbertrail.
Over the years they had mentioned returning to Tillsonburg but they just couldn’t leave all the wonderful people and the community of Oxtongue. They greatly appreciated all your friendship, generosity and kindness they received for half a century.