P. Richard (Rick) Stonehouse

STONEHOUSE, P. Richard (Rick) – It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I announce the passing of my brother Paul Richard “Rick” Stonehouse on Thursday, March 5th, 2026. It was an unexpected passing due to his Parkinson’s.  Rick was 74 and was born May 10, 1951, in the Guelph General Hospital.

He went to the University of Guelph where he ended up with his master’s in business. I don’t know though because he seemed to talk a lot about the “party corner” with his friends in the library. Rick also attended Western University and McMaster University. He was COO for Valcom for a number of years, which made fibreglass masts for naval vessels. 

He was always busy doing handyman jobs around the lake community, which was his happy place.  At the lake community he was also property manager for many many years.  He loved to be outside helping the neighbours with any job they might have.   He would be on his red bike flying down the road or on “Fred” the tractor were his favourite modes of transportation.  Years ago, our neighbour’s grandson who was just a small munchkin would come out of the cottage and see Rick, and he called him “Eeek Eeek” and pointing to Fred so that he could take him for a drive.  He also enjoyed the lake with water skiing, wind surfing, canoeing, discing, sailing, paddleboat and in the winter on his ice boat and skating.  He preferred to be on top of the water and not so much in it.

The lake is our little slice of paradise.  We are so blessed to have this place.  Mom and Dad bought the cottage when Rick was 1 year old.  So, we have been blessed with that place for 73 years.  Have great neighbours with the Whites.    Peter and Rick would prank our other neighbours like Bruce and then they had to figure out “who dun it”.  We have been lucky and only have had 2 different neighbours in all those years.  The first neighbours, they where quite the jokesters, it must have something to do with that cottage number “25”.  Jack liked to throw in a pocketful of change at the end of the bon fires for us kids to dig out in the morning and get covered in soot.  Lucky for them the lake was right there to clean us up.  I don’t think the moms were as excited to know we would all be a mess.  This was when pennies, nickel, dimes and quarter were a big thing, I don’t think it would fly so well now.

Rick is predeceased by his parents Don Campbell Stonehouse and Blanche Marion (nee Graham) Stonehouse.  He is survived by his sister Lea Anne Stonehouse as well as our cousins Rob, Wayne (Sharon), and Karen Graham, along with Donnie (Sherry) Alton and the large Alton clan.

I would like to thank the staff at Wellington Park Retirement Home who went above and beyond to make Rick’s home enjoyable and comfortable as well as providing great care.   Thank you to the doctors and nurses who cared for him on 4 West at the Guelph General Hospital. 

He will be missed and never forgotten he was one of a kind.

Cremation has taken place. There will be a celebration of life at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Parkinson’s Canada or the Guelph General Hospital would be appreciated. 

A tree will be planted in memory of P. Richard (Rick) Stonehouse in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.