Arthur Paul DILKS
1929 – 2016
The Honourable
Arthur Paul Dilks
Retired Judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
On July 10th in his 87th year, Paul Dilks peacefully traded in his beautiful singing voice, razor sharp wit and noble, unfailing sense of what is right, for a place in Heaven. Paul was born in Toronto and is survived after 56 wonderful years of marriage by his wife Carol (nee Orr); children David (Lilli), Brian (Vickie) and Judi (Phil); grandchildren Ross, Trevor, Jeremy, Steven, Nicole, Natalie (Brandon) and Amanda; and great-grandchildren Porter and Eleanor. He was predeceased by his infant daughter Susan Mary. After graduating from Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute in 1947 and his beloved Victoria College in 1951, Paul attended Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in 1955. He then settled in Stratford where he practised law for almost 30 years. He served his community on Stratford City Council for 4 years and as president of various service clubs, sports organizations, law associations and Chair of the Board of Conestoga College. He was appointed a Judge of the County of Simcoe in 1984, finally resettling in Toronto in 1991 as a member of the Superior Court of Ontario. Paul was trained to conduct trials in both of Canada’s official languages. He retired from the Superior Court of Ontario in 2004, after serving on the bench until he was 75. Paul was an active member of Metropolitan United Church in Toronto and had unbounded passion for opera, sports of all kinds, Gilbert and Sullivan and above all his family. A talented singer with a deep and booming voice, he had lead roles in community productions such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and The Stingiest Man in Town, the latter performed on the world-famous Stratford Festival stage. A special thanks to the caregivers at CCAC and all those who provided medical care and support. A memorial service will be held at Metropolitan United Church on July 18th at 11 a.m. at 56 Queen Street East, Toronto. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Metropolitan United Church Concert Fund either at the church or www.metunited.org (please use the Donate Now tab, specifying Music Programs), or to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Toronto