April 30, 1944 – July 4, 2026
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of James “Jim” Dodds, lovingly known as Pops and Jimmy, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Lachine General Hospital, the very place where he was born to George Dodds and Alice Horsfall 82 years ago.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Barbara Walker, his daughters Robin (Scott) and Kelly (Adam), his cherished grandchildren Bradley, Kyra, Tyler and Evan, and his brother-in-law John Walker.
Jim married his high school sweetheart in 1966, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in love, hard work and shared dreams. Together, with the help of family and friends, they built their own home in St. Lazare, working weekends to make their vision a reality. It was there they raised their daughters, and where Barbara still resides today.
A remarkably skilled and resourceful man, Jim truly could build or fix anything. He purchased his own heavy equipment, including a dump truck, bulldozer, tractor and excavator, and even milled the wood for their home in a sawmill he constructed himself in the backyard. His ingenuity and determination were unmatched.
Professionally, Jim was highly respected in the engineering field. As a lead designer, he had an exceptional eye for detail and was widely respected and counted on to catch critical errors before they became costly problems. He began his career with Dominion Engineering in the pulp and paper industry and later worked with Black Clawson-Kennedy, Beloit, ABB and Andritz, where he specialized in crane design. His work often required on-site inspections, and his approval was both trusted and essential.
Outside of work, Jim was rarely idle. He could often be found up in a tree with a chainsaw in hand, helping neighbors, rescuing animals or working in his basement or garage. His generosity and willingness to lend a hand were constants in his life, and he touched many with his kindness.
Jim had a wonderful sense of humor and was always ready with a joke or a quick comeback. He was an enthusiast of antique cars, a proud member of the Jaguar Club, and an avid follower of Formula 1 and power boat racing.
Above all, Jim loved his family deeply. He created lasting memories through many cherished vacations, including trips to Barbados and Walt Disney World. He took great pride in visiting his daughters over the years in Hudson, Vancouver and Atlanta, always lending a hand with major home projects. More recently, in Brockville, he played an important role in lifting (with 80 car jacks!) and restoring the Mills family’s 175-year-old cottage, a testament to his enduring skill, generosity and dedication to those he loved.
He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
A celebration of life will be held in the Fall.
The family extends its sincere thanks to the Hudson Nova nurses for their dedicated and compassionate care. Donations in Jim’s memory are gratefully appreciated.