Longtime standardbred racing industry participant Eileen Waples of Guelph, Ont. passed away peacefully at Hospice Wellington in Guelph on February 7, 2022 at the age of 96.



Eileen was a kind, hard working woman who loved to laugh. She dedicated her life to raising their four children and supporting her husband, the legendary Hall of Famer Keith Waples in his career in harness racing.



Before moving from Victoria Harbour to Durham in 1967, she enjoyed tending her large vegetable garden. There and at their homes in Orangeville and later in Guelph, she continued her love of nurturing flowers which were the envy of many.



Some of her fondest memories involved winters in Florida with their many friends in the horse racing industry. At their winter home she enjoyed painting, bowling and the game of petanque. She also enjoyed travelling with her daughters and sister, which made for some fun-filled trips to Vegas, Nashville, Branson and New York City.

She was predeceased by her husband of almost 75 years, Keith Waples, who passed away on May 7, 2021. She will be sadly missed by her four children, Barbara Lennox, Donna Galbraith (Mac), Karen Hauver (Maurice) and Gord Waples (Denise) as well as her nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandsons.



Eileen was the oldest child of Fred and Leona Devitt and was predeceased by her brothers, Elwood, Carlyle and Lloyd and sister, Doreen Saunders and by her grandson Jason (Jay) Waples.



She is survived by her sister, Shirley Taylor and brothers Ron, Keith (Slim) and Lawrence Devitt as well as sisters-in-law Dorothy Rumney, Peggi Diebel and Mary Jane Burnett.



Eileen was a quiet, humble woman who never liked to be the centre of attention so, in accordance with her wishes, her body has been cremated and there will be no formal service at this time. When weather permits, her urn will be buried beside her loving husband, Keith at St. John’s Anglican Church cemetery in Campbellville, Ont.

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Should you wish to honour her with a donation in her memory, please consider Guelph General Hospital or Hospice Wellington, where she received such excellent care in the final stages of her life.



Donations/online condolences can be made through the Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home in Guelph, Ont. 

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Eileen Waples.