Ralph was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta on August 19, 1921.  He attended Longfellow School near the family ranch and finished his early education at Upper Canada College in Toronto.  He volunteered for service in 1941 and trained as a signalman at Kingston Ontario.  He served in the Canadian Signal Corps in England, France, Holland and Germany.  On his return he took a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture at UBC in Vancouver.  During this time he met Edith Nicolle who was training as a registered nurse at VGH.  They were married December 29, 1951.  They had five children, Ralph Jr., Stephanie, Susan, Stephen, and John.  The family moved from Burnaby back to the prairies in 1960 where Ralph worked for the Federal Department of Agriculture, Health of Animals, in Moose Jaw, Regina, and Prince Albert.  In their retirement years Ralph and Edith wintered in Victoria and spent summers at cabins Ralph had built at Whiteswan Lake and Napatak on Lac La Ronge.  Ralph was happiest spending time with family. A true gentleman, he was kind, courteous and a supporter of many local and national charities.  He read widely and passed on his love of language and ideas to his children and grandchildren.  Ralph is survived by his son Ralph (the late Joyce) and family Alison and Katherine; his daughter Stephanie (Denis) and family Anna, Jonathan, Benjamin and Peter; his daughter Susan (Jacques) and family Jessica, Jason, Alex, and Angela; as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his father Ralph; mother Olga (Evans); wife Edith (Nicolle); infant sons Stephen and John; siblings Julia (Bert Cannings), Louise (Bev Monkman), and Gene (Ev Kennedy).  Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at Calvary United Church, 114 – 25th St. E., Prince Albert, SK with Reverend Nora Vedress officiating.  Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.grays.ca/   Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306-922-4729).

 

• Date : 2016-02-16