Obituary of Wayne David Leighton

Age 79, of Falmouth, passed away suddenly at home, with his wife by his side, on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Born on February 2, 1946, in Windsor, he was a son of the late Burton and Winnifred (Young) Leighton of Windsor.

On May 10, 1969, Wayne married his high-school sweetheart and love-of-his-life, Angela (Morrow). Together they built a happy life and enjoyed almost 56 years of marriage. 

Wayne attended Windsor Regional High School and later graduated from Acadia University with dual Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees in 1969. Wayne began his teaching career later that year at Hants West Rural High School, retiring from there in 2000. During that time he educated and mentored hundreds of students in Chemistry, many of whom went on to establish successful careers of their own. He hoped that he had made a lasting and positive impact on the lives of the many students that had crossed his path over the years.

While at HWRHS, Wayne spent uncountable hours coaching and managing the school’s hockey team. He was incredibly proud of the fact that under his guidance the team won two Provincial AA High School Hockey Championships in 1988 and 1991. In 2004, the 1987/1988 Hants West Flames team was inducted into the Birthplace of Hockey Hall of Fame. Wayne also spent many years refereeing hockey in the Hants County area, most times blatantly ignoring players and fans objections to the calls that he made.

Wayne was incredibly active, enjoying bowling, walking, gardening and yard work but his favourite activity of all was golf. Taking up the game as a teen at the 9-hole Fort Edward Golf Course in Windsor. A move to the 18-hole Avon Valley Golf Course in Falmouth over 50 years ago, brought even more excitement to the game. He had served as Past President of Avon Valley Golf and Country Club. In recent years, he had achieved the feat of not one but two hole-in-ones – an accomplishment that was long awaited. Wayne was most anxious to return to the course this season with his long-time golf partner, Bob, and others.

Wayne will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his wife Angela, only child, daughter, Jennifer Capeling; grandsons, Austin and Aiden Capeling, all of Falmouth. He is also survived by siblings, Douglas (Kim), Ingleside, ON; Robert, Windsor; William (Heather), First South; Betty Lou, Windsor; Rick (Cheryl), Martock; and sister-in-law, Lynn, Windsor, ON; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides his parents, Wayne was pre-deceased by his brother, Gary; sisters-in-law, Paulette (Robert), Diane (Douglas) and in-laws, Dorothy (Walter) Curran and Elliot Morrow.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Windsor Fire Department and EHS services for their professionalism and swift response.

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317), where a service celebrating Wayne’s life will be held 1:00 p.m., Monday, May 5 in the funeral home chapel, Celebrant Helen Lindsay officiating. A reception will immediately follow in the funeral home’s Elmcroft Reception Centre. A private family interment will be held in Centre Falmouth Cemetery, Town Rd., Falmouth. Family flowers only by request. Donations in memory of Wayne may be made to Autism Nova Scotia, 2737 Joseph Howe Dr., Suite 201, Halifax, NS B3L 4G7 (www.autismnovascotia.ca); Hope for Wildlife, 5909 Highway 207, Seaforth, NS B0J 2L0 (www.hopeforwildlife.net) or a charity of one’s choice. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca.