Obituary of Margaret Halton

May 8, 1923 – Carmen, Manitoba

April 25, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Margaret Eleanor Halton (nee Burton), beloved wife of the late Ernest Graham Halton, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the age of 100 years.

Eleanor was born in Carmen, MB, on May 8, 1923. After high school, she trained to become a pharmacist and worked in Sunders Drug Store in Carmen, MB, until she joined the RCAF (WD) WL3 RTO for WWII. She was stationed in Ottawa, Montreal, Fort Bay, and Dartmouth. Most of her time in the RCAF was in Dartmouth, NS. She remained in the RCAF until her unit was disbanded. Eleanor graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1950. She joined the Winnipeg Canoe Club when at university, boating in a war canoe, second stroke, where she received various sports awards including female athlete of the year.

She moved to Calgary after completing her university degree in 1950 and joined the ERCB. From this job she went to the private sector, exploring for oil and gas with several companies until ending her career at Pan Canadian Petroleum, while still drilling for oil and gas, as well as teaching in-house courses. In the early 80s, Eleanor was asked to run and was elected as the Business Manager for the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. She retired after eighteen years at Pan Canadian Petroleum in 1988.

Eleanor married Ernest in 1959 at Parkdale United Church in Calgary. This was held in the gym, as the main church wasn’t built yet. Her immediate family included Pat and Ken Halton, while Barbara (Bunny) stayed living with her mother. Eleanor loved having a family, which soon expanded with Esther Jean (1960), Lorna Mary (1962), and Dorothy Katherine (1964).

She was a member of many organizations, including the Canadian Youth Hostel (1954), becoming a life member serving as treasurer, secretary, and trip organizer; Alpine Club of Canada (1954), where she became a life member, and where she climbed from 1954 to 1959 and acted as a custodian in many locations between 1987 to 2002; Foothills Camera Club; Explorer Councillor at Parkdale United Church for fifteen years; Calgary Field Naturalist in the Botany Section; Bridge Club with Parkdale United Church, from 1962 until the start of COVID; and the Parkdale Nifty Fifties social club. After retirement, Eleanor volunteered with the Science Network, the Science Hotline, and the CBE for in-class, and as a Science Fair Judge.

Eleanor had a passion for the outdoors, which included climbing, backcountry skiing, downhill skiing, backpacking, hiking, and photography. This is when she refined her amateur botanist skills, frequently stopping to identify some exotic plant.

She also loved travelling and travelled extensively, making it to six of the seven continents.

She will be most remembered for her passion for the outdoors and her love of family.

Eleanor is survived by her daughter Esther (Joe) Halton, and grandchildren, Graham, Catherine, and Elizabeth (Eli) Hillaby; daughter Lorna Carr, and grandchildren, Byron (Ivy) and Teagan Carr; daughter Pat (Hap), and granddaughters, Kira (Jeff) Scholten and Candice (Rob) Bilyk; daughter-in-law Keiko, and grandchildren, David (Noriko) and Ann Halton; and daughter Barbara (David) Halton.

Eleanor is also survived by her nieces Janette and Cynthia, daughters of her beloved brother Donald Joseph (Elaine Anna) Burton.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband Ernie (1988), her son Ken (1984), her daughter Dorothy (2004), her brothers, Don (2014) and Kenneth (2019); and her parents, Thomas Allan Burton and Cecil Mary Burton (nee Porter, adopted Brandon).

Funeral Service details will be announced at a later date.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alpine Club of Canada, 201 Indian Flats Rd PO Box 8040 Stn Main, Canmore, AB T1W 2T8, Telephone: 403-678-3200,  #5 - Facilities Fund | 2M (2mev.com).

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

In living memory of Margaret Halton, 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.