Donald Edward Batten (Donnie)
BATTEN, Donald Edward – passed away peacefully on Thursday April 16th, 2020 at The Views at St. Joseph’s in Comox, British Columbia at the age of 94. Beloved husband of Thelma Batten (nee Howie). Loving father of Bonnie Lineker (David) in Comox, B.C. and Robin Roy (Wayne) in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Cherished grandfather of Samantha Crewe (Ken), bobi Lineker Lee (Ivan), Kendra Macintyre (Zig) and Mackz Roy. Sweet papa (great grandfather) to Kyle, Sydney, Elliot, Collin, Audrey, Hayley and Zahya.
Donnie was an outstanding hockey player. He played with some of the best juniors of the 1940s. He wore the colours of the Oshawa Generals and played alongside Gus Morton, Wild Bill Ezinicki, Ken Smith,Ted Lindsay, Dave Bauer and Floyd Curry (his brother in law). In the spring of 1944 the Oshawa Generals played the Trail Smoke Eaters in Maple Leaf Gardens and the Generals easily won the Memorial Cup.
Immediately following the victory Donnie joined the armed forces and was soon overseas. Upon returning to Oshawa in 1946 Donnie and Thelma were married. At the same time he received his unconditional release from Omaha – the Detroit Red Wings affiliate where he had been drafted, and joined workouts with Gordie Howe.
After moving to Cornwall Donnie played an important part of the Chevies, Colts, Cougars, Calumets and Pontiac hockey teams with contemporaries Bob Bingley, Bernie Limoges, Joe Lepine, Gord Buckley, Gerry Plumondon and many more.
Both Donnie and Thelma enjoyed an active athletic life in hockey, swimming, golf and curling and lived happily in Cornwall for over 60 years. After Thelma’s passing Donnie moved to Comox, B.C. to be close to his daughter, son in law, grandchildren great grandchildren and all the friends he had met over the years while out there on holidays and fishing trips.
Special heartfelt thanks to the incredible staff at The Views in Comix who took such wonderful care of ‘Papa Donnie’.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date – when friends and family can get together and raise a toast to the wonderful man that he was.
BATTEN, Donald Edward – passed away peacefully on Thursday April 16th, 2020 at The Views at St. Joseph’s in Comox, British Columbia at the age of 94. Beloved husband of Thelma Batten (nee Howie). Loving father of Bonnie Lineker (David) in Comox, B.C. and Robin Roy (Wayne) in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Cherished grandfather of Samantha Crewe (Ken), bobi Lineker Lee (Ivan), Kendra Macintyre (Zig) and Mackz Roy. Sweet papa (great grandfather) to Kyle, Sydney, Elliot, Collin, Audrey, Hayley and Zahya.
Donnie was an outstanding hockey player. He played with some of the best juniors of the 1940s. He wore the colours of the Oshawa Generals and played alongside Gus Morton, Wild Bill Ezinicki, Ken Smith,Ted Lindsay, Dave Bauer and Floyd Curry (his brother in law). In the spring of 1944 the Oshawa Generals played the Trail Smoke Eaters in Maple Leaf Gardens and the Generals easily won the Memorial Cup.
Immediately following the victory Donnie joined the armed forces and was soon overseas. Upon returning to Oshawa in 1946 Donnie and Thelma were married. At the same time he received his unconditional release from Omaha – the Detroit Red Wings affiliate where he had been drafted, and joined workouts with Gordie Howe.
After moving to Cornwall Donnie played an important part of the Chevies, Colts, Cougars, Calumets and Pontiac hockey teams with contemporaries Bob Bingley, Bernie Limoges, Joe Lepine, Gord Buckley, Gerry Plumondon and many more.
Both Donnie and Thelma enjoyed an active athletic life in hockey, swimming, golf and curling and lived happily in Cornwall for over 60 years. After Thelma’s passing Donnie moved to Comox, B.C. to be close to his daughter, son in law, grandchildren great grandchildren and all the friends he had met over the years while out there on holidays and fishing trips.
Special heartfelt thanks to the incredible staff at The Views in Comix who took such wonderful care of ‘Papa Donnie’.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date – when friends and family can get together and raise a toast to the wonderful man that he was.