Obit Charles James Pickersgill

http://www.alanpickersgill.ca/2009_07_01_archive.html

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Charles James Pickersgill (1919 - 2009)
My July 21 column, which was written on July 17, spoke of my father's health and how the years are catching up on him. Sadly, he passed away at about 5:00 am on Friday July 24. Instead of a July 28 column, I offer the following obituary which speaks quite inadequately of 90 years worth of interesting living.




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PICKERSGILL, Charles James on 24 July, 2009, peacefully at Stratford General Hospital in his 91st year.

Charles was born in the London borough of Shoreditch, U.K. on May 4, 1919, the son of Charles and Annie (Chizlett) Pickersgill.

At the age of 14 he began training as a restaurant waiter and worked in the merchant marine as a steward on the Cunard Line and the White Line.

He joined the Royal Navy in 1939. During the war years he served as a telegrapher on HMS Hood from May 1940 until December 1940. He also served on HMS La Capricieuse and HMS Mermaid.

Following the war he worked as a radio mechanic and a radar technician. He moved to Canada with his family in 1957. His work took him through Canadian and American air bases in France, Germany and northern Canada where he helped install the Distant Early Warning System (DEW Line). For a time he maintained the radar system from the depths of the NORAD "bunker" in North Bay.

After retiring from ITT Canada in Guelph he volunteered with L'Arche Stratford, the CNIB, and at Woodland Towers in Stratford where he lived since 2002.

Charles was a member of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Stratford, the Royal Canadian Naval Association and New Democratic Party.

He enjoyed travelling extensively with his wife, Marjorie, whom he married on June 9, 1943 in Scotland.

He was an avid Scrabble player and a strong advocate for peace and social justice.

Dear father of Edward Pickersgill of Guelph, Alan Pickersgill and spouse Lynne Hulley of Guelph, Ronald Pickersgill of London, Ont., and James Pickersgill and spouse Jane Ashmore of Cobourg.

He is also survived by 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Joan Sanderson of London, U.K.; and several nephews, nieces and friends throughout England, Scotland and Canada. He touched many lives during his journey on our planet.

Predeceased by his sister, Daisy Thompson on September 23, 1972; his grandson, Ruairi Ashmore on April 27, 1997; and his wife, Marjorie Mary (Brennan) on December 2, 2002.

Sincere thanks are owed to the dedicated support staff at Woodland Towers, the nursing staff in the palliative care ward of Stratford General, Dr. Wayne Parsons and several other doctors at the hospital.

Relatives and friends will be received at the Heinbuck Funeral Home, 156 Albert St, Stratford on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

The funeral mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, Stratford, on Monday, July 27, 2009 at 10 a.m. followed by interment at Avondale Cemetery, Stratford. Rev. Father Dick Bester will officiate. Parish prayers will be said at the funeral home on Sunday at 6:45 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made through the funeral home to the charity of your choice.


# posted by Alan Pickersgill @ 7:30 PM 0 Comments
Tuesday, July 21, 2009