Obituary of Keith Middleton

MIDDLETON, Douglas Ian “Keith” – age 86 of Enfield, formerly Truro, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 3^rd, 2024, in Magnolia Continuing Care, Enfield. Born in Souris, Manitoba, he was a son of the late Bruce and Audrey (McEachern) Middleton.

At a young age, Keith learned to work hard, delivering daily newspapers all over town often in inclement weather. As a teenager, he had several after-school jobs, including working with the local photographers. He took over the photographing of a family wedding anniversary while on the same day, the photographer had to do a wedding. After high school graduation he did a short stint with the Royal Canadian Airforce. Deciding that was not for him, he started a job with the Royal Bank of Canada in Winnipeg, starting as a junior teller and over time, he advanced on up to accountant and eventually bank manager. During this time, he also worked in several spots in Ontario including Kenora, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Goderich, Stratford and Kitchener.

In 1959, he married Eleanor Elliott and while in Ontario, they had three daughters, each born in a different location. In 1967, he continued his banking career in Winnipeg and trained in international banking. In 1979, he was transferred to Halifax as manager of the international centre to cover all three maritime provinces plus Newfoundland and Labrador. This meant a fair amount of travelling in those locations. Following that, he accepted a transfer back to Toronto’s international centre. There, he most enjoyed his trips to Ottawa, working with several businesses needing banking assistance there. As a result, those businesses, showing him their appreciation, got together, knowing of his upcoming retirement, to present him with a shadow box. In it they each placed an example of what they worked with. One of these items was a box that had gone into outer space and back.

In 1993, Keith retired from Toronto, eventually choosing to retire just outside of Truro. Since Halifax days he had been a member of the Lions Clubs doing community work which he very much enjoyed. He got the local club in Truro started on installing Northwood InTouch emergency buttons for seniors in their own homes. When we, ourselves, eventually moved into an Assisted Living Residence, the manager eventually decided to set up those emergency buttons for each resident. When the fellow from Halifax came in to set them Keith and Eleanor up with their own buttons, he remembered Keith and said, “Oh, hi Keith!”.

Throughout his busy lifetime, Keith enjoyed his sports, curling and golfing. He enjoyed all types of music, and was a member of the Souris town band, while very young, playing trumpet. He sang in several choirs. His hobbies included stamp collecting, being a member of the Ontario Numismatic Association for awhile and fine woodworking. He was just that passionate about his field of work with the bank that upon request by Dalhousie University in Halifax, he did several lectures there on trade and finance.

Keith and Eleanor really enjoyed their 7 plus years at Wallace Retirement Living in Truro, where the staff and residents have been exemplary. With advancement of poor health, Keith was slated by Nova Scotia Health to enter a care facility, which turned out to be Magnolia Continuing Care in Enfield. Again, the staff there proved to be so very good to him. It was amazing right up to and including the day of his passing after one year in residence there.

Keith leaves to mourn, his wife, Eleanor; daughters, Heather (Doug) Brown, Leslie (Kevin) Waugh, Joanne Middleton; grandchildren, Geoffrey Brown (Susie), Andrew Brown, Brittany LeRoux (Tyler), Cameron Waugh, Kelsey Piper, Matthew Piper; great grandchildren, Eleanor Brown, Quinten Brown, Anderson Gardiner; brother, Tim (Rosemary); several nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Ettinger Funeral Homes, Shubenacadie and Elmsdale. A small memorial service will be held at a later date.

Tributes, words of comfort and memories of Keith may be shared with the family at www.ettingerfuneralhome.com