William George Cathcart Kenney

Born in the Village of Acton on June 6, 1891, William was the son of William (a shoemaker and eventual shoe merchant) and Elizabeth Matilda and brother of Eliza, Arthur (WW1), Nora and Francis. The family lived at 115 Church St., Acton.

William graduated Ontario Veterinary College and was called overseas in 1915, serving for five years in Egypt, Palestine, Belgium and France.

Upon his safe return from overseas in 1920, he attended Varsity Meds at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1926 as a Physician. The 1931 Census shows that William continued to live at home on Church St. and his occupation was listed as Physician. Many older Actonites will remember Doc Kenney faithfully caring for them and doing “house calls”, which is unheard of today.

William age 50, Physician and bachelor, married Lillian Morley age 42, spinster on January 26, 1942. William died March 25, 1968 and is buried at Fairview Cemetery, Acton.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on. *Information taken from Ancestry.ca, Findagrave.com and personal interview with Ray and Rena Arbic