Biography:

Dr. John Carlyle MacWilliam was born in Parry Sound, Ontario on the 13th of June 1914.  Dr. MacWilliam was the youngest of 2 children born to John J. MacWilliam and the former Sarah MacLachlan.   His father was a school teacher and his older brother was named Alexander “Douglas” MacWilliam.  Dr. MacWilliam’s family moved to London, Ontario when he was a child and according to the 1921 census, the family resided at 127 Mamelon Street.

Dr. MacWilliam attended medical school at the University of Western Ontario in London.   He graduated M.D. in 1939.   Dr. MacWilliam completed his junior internship at Private Patients Pavilion, Toronto General Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario. He completed his surgical residency at Toronto General Hospital.   Dr. MacWilliam began his medical practice in Chatham in 1941.  Dr. MacWilliam was listed in the 1941 Shepherds City of Chatham Business Directory.  At that time his office was located at 47 King Street.

Dr. MacWilliam married Doris I. Truan, a registered nurse who had graduated from the Public General Hospital School of Nursing in 1942.  Mrs. MacWilliam was born in Wallaceburg, Ontario on the 21st of February, 1921.  She was the 2nd of 3 children born to James Aiken Truan and the former Pearl Ruby Innis.   Mrs. MacWilliam’s father worked at the Dominion Glass Company in Wallaceburg and her siblings were; Donald J. Truan and Jean Truan.  According to the 1921 census, the Truan family resided at 74 Gillard Street in Wallaceburg.

Dr. and Mrs. MacWilliam were the parents of two daughters, Elizabeth and Heather.

Dr. MacWilliam was the Medical Director of Thamesview Lodge, District Medical Officer for the C.N.R., Medical Doctor for the Kent County Jail and served as the President of the Kent County Medical Society on 1961. In 1944, his medical office was located at 44 Third Street in Chatham.

Dr. and Mrs. MacWilliam resided at 243 Wellington Street West (in Chatham).  He retired in 1984 after practicing medicine for over 45 years.  Dr. MacWilliam enjoyed boating and playing golfing.

Mrs. MacWilliam died at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on the 23rd of February, 1999.  Dr. MacWilliam died in London (Ontario) on the 9th of December, 2006 at the age of 92.  Dr. and Mrs. MacWilliam were buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.

*Mrs. MacWilliam’s brother Donald Truan, served as the Mayor of Wallaceburg from 1981 until 1989.