1934-2026
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Richard Barrie Wilbur on Friday May 22nd 2026, at home. He was also known as Dick to his friends, Hunckle Dick D11 to his skydiving family, Wilb’s to his cadet friends (RR Victoria / RMC Kingston), and due to his joie de vivre attitude… Dickie, or Dink Wilnots.
Born in Toronto in 1934, he was predeceased by his mother Margorie Beaman, his father Robert Alexander Wilbur, his sister Carole Charette and his younger brother Jim Wilbur.
Dick is survived by his beloved Suzanne Reid, spouse and forever sole mate for 42 amazing and wonderful years, his loving niece Janna Charette and nephew Colin Charette.
His story
Dick loved life and people. A master at making people feel welcomed and accepted. His presence and positive energy towards others was like a magnet, people just wanted to be near him. His laugh was infectious and came from deep within him as he loved to laugh.
His love for adventure never stopped touching the hearts and memories of so many people. To mention some of his better-known adventures … he was a stunt clown (POO the clown) with the HELL DRIVERS 1970/1, traveling across Canada (CNE Toronto) and into the states. A stunt clown balancing on the back end of a stunt car traveling on only two wheels after hitting the ramp he would finish with a forward flip from the back to the front of the car as it came to a halt in front of the cheering crowd. We must not forget his clown car and his crazy stunts that made the children laugh.
He started jumping in 1961 and was considered a PIONEER SKYDIVER – CSPA (Canadian Sports Parachuting Assoc) “D11” ending his career in 1984 with 3329 jumps which in those days was an amazing number of jumps. He held a group HALO record for many years. A High Altitude water jump with a round cheapo parachute at a regatta in Brockville. The 4 man team landed in the St Lawrence between Canada and the USA and had to tread water until the boats came out to get them.
Dick loved to train at the NDG and Downtown YMCA and was known as the man who climbed the stairs on his hands (occasionally with a medicine ball between his feet) He was in one movie … during EXPO 67 (La Ronde Theater) Lanterna Magica … he was the strong man in a Flintstone leopard suit with a fake mustache pretending to pick up and hold a heavy dumbbell over his head only to have it later displaced by a stage hand (and the crowd laughed).
Dick worked for many years at Dominion Bridge (Lachine) and Drummond McCall (Lachine) as a salesman for steel products.
He loved to laugh and loved life. HE WILL BE FOREVER MISSED.
RÉSIDENCE FUNÉRAIRE J.J. CARDINAL
2125, rue Notre-Dame, Lachine (Québec) H8S 2G5
Tél. : 514-639-1511 | Téléc. : 514-639-1516 | Courriel : info@jjcardinal.ca
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