London business icon Fred Kingsmill dies of natural causes

Fred Kingsmill has died of natural causes at the age of 90.

Kingsmill’s son, Tim, told 980 CFPL that his father passed early Sunday morning, surrounded by family.

Before the building was converted to a downtown campus for Fanshawe College, Kingmill’s on Dundas Street was one of the oldest, family-owned and operated department stores in the country.

It was opened in 1865 by Thomas Kingsmill as a small dry goods store but eventually grew to be a five-floor department store offering a variety of goods.

In a statement, London Mayor Ed Holder said his thoughts were with Kingsmill’s family.

“Fred was so well respected, and loved by all,” Holder’s statement said. “He was a gentleman, and a gentle man; a fierce champion of our downtown, but also someone who showed tremendous compassion for London’s most vulnerable.”

The city, he said, had lost an icon.

“I first met Fred when I was a real young, young child. As a treat, we’d go downtown shopping,” former city councillor Cheryl Miller told 980 CFPL.

“He was the kind of person that would talk to you and when we were finished talking, because I was a yakker back then, my mom said to me, ‘Do you know who that man is?’ I said, ‘No.’ She said, ‘He owns the store.'”

Miller later got to know Kingsmill through local business associations and described him as an anchor that kept the downtown thriving.

“Not only did he do that, but he was such a charitable, giving man,” she added.

“You just got to talk to people who needed devices, wheelchairs, aids, canes, whatever. Fred was always willing to help somebody else and it wasn’t for dollars or cents.”

CEO and general manager of Downtown London, Janette MacDonald, said Fred was a community icon.

“He was just a wonderful, sharing individual. Always teaching people. He has such a history of London and remembered so much about it and was very willing to share,” MacDonald told 980 CFPL.

“I’ve been in this role for 17 years and I just, I can’t imagine not having Fred around, it just doesn’t seem right.”

Kingsmill is survived by his wife, son, daughter, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday at Logan Funeral Home, where a Masonic service will also be held. A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Full details can be found on the Logan Funeral Home website.