Obituary of David Edward Orton

January 20, 1950 – Oshawa, Ontario

July 2, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

David Orton, beloved husband of Mary Gawlinski, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at the age of 74 years.

David was born in Oshawa, ON, on January 20, 1950. Working for General Motors, he moved west with his family to Vancouver and eventually ended up back in Calgary in 1996.

David met and married Mary Gawlinski in 2005 in Calgary and they resided there, with song and dance, until his sudden death on July 2, 2024, which saddened all who knew him.

Everyone described Dave in the same fashion: a kind, gentle, and caring man with a great smile who enjoyed golf, football, hockey, and family get-togethers, especially if it included his grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and roast beef.

He was a quarterback in high school, as well as for the Mounties at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, until a knee injury sidelined his football career.

He enjoyed travelling, including as far as Australia in 2018 for Oliver’s wedding and in 2022 to meet granddaughters, Charlotte and Eva. Other highlights included a bicycle tour in France in 2007, Japan in 2012, South Africa in 2014, and a Mediterranean cruise just before COVID-19. In 2014, he and Mary discovered yoga, which they continued to practice together until last week.

Besides his loving wife Mary, David is survived by his daughters, Noelle (Carlos) Giraldo of Calgary and Hayley Orton (Eugene Mjakinkovs) of Swansea, Wales, and their mother Cathy Sereda; sons, Oliver Bladek (Samantha Lawson) of Sydney, Australia, Matthew Bladek, and Dexter Bladek, both of Calgary; grandchildren, Hugo and Adele Mjakinkovs-Orton of Swansea, Wales, Antonia Giraldo of Calgary, and Charlotte and Eva Lawson Bladek of Sydney, Australia.

David is also survived by his brother John Orton of Oshawa, and sisters, Nancy (Tom) Daglish of Visalia, California, and Fran (Dan) Adams of Oshawa; brother-in-law Geoffrey Gawlinski and his sons, Ronan and Connor, of Calgary; mother-in-law Helen Gawlinski of Calgary, aunt Sophie Tietz of Calgary, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

David was predeceased by his parents, Thomas Howitt Orton and Jeanette Isobel Rombough of Oshawa; brother-in-law Stephen Gawlinski of Edmonton, and uncle Joe Zukowski of Calgary, the best golf buddy ever.

Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street N, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6) on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Telephone: 403-955-8818, www.childrenshospital.ab.ca.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with David’s family here.

In living memory of David Orton, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-276-2296.