Obituary of Ralph Rawsthorne

Rawsthorne, Ralph A.R.C.T. World War II veteran Passed away at the Hotel Dieu-Shaver Rehabilitation Centre on Sunday August 11, 2013. In his 99th year, Ralph Rawsthorne,loving and beloved husband of Dorothy for over 68 years of marriage.Father of Jeffery and the late Suzy (1966 at five years of age). Fondly remembered by nieces and nephews in Los Angeles and Nanaimo, B.C.. Born in England, arrived in Canada at 3 years old in Winnipeg educated at the University of Manitoba, served in the |R.C.A.F.as a navigator, serving in the Battle of Britain, also in France on D-day. serving as an Oboe Control officer in radar, discharged as a Flight Lieutenant. In 1946, he worked at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Montreal.Ralph married Dorothy Davis in St. Catharines and became manager of the St. Catharines Chamber of Commerce for thirty years before retiring at age 65. He lead in establishing the Arts Council at Rodman Hall, starting the Community Chest,he lobbied for the construction of the Garden City Skyway bridge,he assisted in the property purchase for the birth of Brock University.He was active in the Studio Tours of Haliburton County for twenty years,a lifetime Elder at First United Church, becoming a Paul Harris Fellow at Rotary International. In celebration of his life, his family encourage memorial donations to The Salvation Army, the United Church of Canada, St. Catharines and Haliburton General Hospitals, Rotary Club International and C.N.I.B. having coped with blindness for his last three years of his life .. (and may be made by calling Patrick J. Darte Funeral Chapel 905-685-6584)