John James 'Jim' Farquhar, 82, died September 2, 2002 at his home in Brockville.
He was born April 10, 1920 in Ingelow, Manitoba, son of John James Farquhar and his wife, the former Elice Booth. Prior to 1940 he was employed by the Saskatchewan Telephone Co.
He joined the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals and served from 1940 to 1945 in Canada and overseas, during the Second World War.
On November 10, 1945, he married Hazel Richardson at Christ Church (Anglican) in Saskatchewan.
He began a long career with Bell Canada on February 5, 1946, retiring February 5, 1982.
He lived in Brockville from 1949 and belonged to St. Paul's Anglican Church, Brockville, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 96 and the Salem Masonic Lodge No. 368.
Mr. Farquhar is survived by son Robert Richardson Farquhar and wife Frances of Ottawa and daughters Ann Elice Farquhar ART of Walnut Grove, B.C., and Dianne Elizabeth Farquhar RN of New Liskeard.
Also surviving are his brother Reginald Farquhar of Saskatchewan and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife Hazel, son Richard Ian in 1958 at the age of eight years, and brothers Arnold and Donald.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, where on September 6 a celebration of his life was held, with Rev. Stan Riley officiating. Burial followed in the family plot in Oakland Cemetery, Brockville.
The pallbearers were Robert Farquhar, Steve Foster, Roger Fulford, Sheila Mills, Reg Bishop and Tom Shewan.
Memorial donations to the Children's Wish Foundation will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Eleanor Walter, 81
CARDINAL -- Eleanor Walter, 81, who lived in the Cardinal area most of her life, died August 20, 2002 at the Wellington House Nursing Home in Prescott after a lengthy illness. She had lived at the nursing home for the past five years.
Born in Brockville on June 7, 1921, she was the daughter of Samuel Pyke and the former Ida Flannigan. She married Orval Walter and became a housewife and mother.
She identified with the Philadelphia Pentecostal Tabernacle in Cardinal and was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 105 there. She loved to play cards, especially euchre.
Mrs. Walter is survived by three children, Wenston and wife Sharron of Hamilton, Pat and wife Marlene of Spencerville and Delaine Greenough and husband Thom of South Mountain, as well as 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Orval in 1995, son Arnold, daughter Sylvia and two grandchildren, Martin and Carrie.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Cardinal, and a Legion service was held August 22. The funeral was in the funeral home on August 23, with Rev. Jack Urquhart officiating. Burial was at St. Paul's Cemetery, Cardinal.
The pallbearers were Luther and Tim Walter, Don Towsley, Tom Beatson, Jack Gilligan and Thom Greenough.
Memorial donations were directed to Wellington House Palliative Care.
Margaret Keeler, 101
PRESCOTT -- Margaret Martha Keeler, formerly of Maitland, was nearly 102 years old when she died August 15, 2002 at Sherwood Park Manor in Brockville, where she had lived since breaking her hip in 1997.
She was born October 15, 1900 in London, England, to William James Quadling and the former Jessie Simpson Coutts. She started nurse's training near London but didn't like it, so she then worked as an operator of a comptometre (precursor of computers) in London, England.
Her sister Jessie had emigrated to Canada and Margaret went to the Maitland area to help her through her first pregnancy. While here she met Albert Paul Keeler, a market gardener, and after she returned to England they continued to correspond.
At the prompting of Paul Keeler, she immigrated to Canada in 1930 and they were married on March 1, 1930 in Digby, N.S.
A family friend in Montreal gave them a wedding reception there on their return to Maitland.
Mrs. Keeler became a homemaker after her marriage.
During the Second World War, she served as a Red Cross volunteer. She was also a longtime member of the Maitland Women's Institute and was honoured with a life membership.
She attended St. James Anglican Church, Maitland, and was a member of the church guild and sang in the choir.
She lived in a seniors residence in Prescott before going to Sherwood Park Manor.
She was predeceased by her parents, husband Paul Keeler, sisters Jessie "Cis" and Florence "Flo" and four brothers, William "Will, " Arthur, Robert "Bob" and Edward Quadling.
She is survived by her daughter Joyce McKinnon and husband Vaness "Tut" of RR 3, Prescott, granddaughters Victoria Anne McKinnon of Bath and Margaret Gabrielle McKinnon of Brockville, and great-granddaughter Alana Krista Hamelin of Kingston.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, where on August 19 the funeral was held, with Rev. Michael Pollesel, of St John's Anglican Church, Prescott, officiating. Burial followed at Maynard Cemetery. The pallbearers were Timothy, Steve, Willy and Tyler McKinnon.
Memorial donations to Sherwood Park Manor will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Ralph Hamilton, 64
WILLIAMSBURG -- Ralph Hamilton, 64, a lifetime resident of the Winchester area, died suddenly August 23, 2002 at Winchester Hospital.
He was born May 27, 1938, in Winchester to Stanley Hamilton and the former Iva Bell.
On October 28, 1962, he married Shirley Belway at her parents' home in Mountain Township.
For the past 27 years, Mr. Hamilton had worked as a heavy equipment operator at Cruikshank Construction.
He took great pride in his home and his vehicles; he spent many hours making sure they were maintained in the best possible condition.
He is survived by his wife Shirley Hamilton, daughter Linda Hamilton of Ottawa and two sons, Dwayne and wife Mary of Glen Becker and Roger and wife Susan of RR 1, Iroquois, as well as grandchildren Megan, Bradley, Shawn, Jessica, Kyle, Matthew and Jacob.
Also surviving are three brothers, Raymond and wife Gail of Prescott, Keith and wife Marjorie of RR 1, Morrisburg, and Harold and wife Linda of Ottawa, and one sister, Joyce Leach and husband Bill of Arnprior. Several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews also survive.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, where on August 26 the funeral was held, with Pastor Leavitt, of the Community Family Church, officiating. Burial was at Maple Ridge Cemetery, Chesterville.
The pallbearers were Les Cruickshank, Mike Casselman, Reid McIntyre, Art McElheran, Gord Robinson and Arnold Barkley.
Memorial donations to Winchester District Memorial Hospital will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Joan Ritchie, 68
ELGIN -- Joan Ritchie, 68, a member of the Old Time Fiddlers, died of cancer August 6, 2002 at her Kingston residence.
She was born Mary Joan Simpson on August 21, 1933 in Kingston. Her parents were Oliver Simpson and the former Florence Hutching. She was raised and educated in Seeleys Bay. Her first husband, James Chrissley, predeceased her. In 1960 she married Dale Ritchie in Kingston.
Over the years she lived in Seeleys Bay, Battersea, Inverary, Moscow, Brewers Mills, Taylor Road, Gananoque, Regina, Sask., Crosby, Portland and Kingston.
For over 20 years she worked in housekeeping at nursing homes. First she worked in the laundry department at Seeleys Bay Nursing Home; then she was the housekeeping overseer in the laundry department of the Carveth Nursing Home in Gananoque. She retired eight years ago, but continued to stay in touch with residents at Carveth and donated materials to the home.
Mrs. Ritchie enjoyed playing guitar and was a member of the musical group The Old Time Fiddlers.
She identified with the United Church and enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening, decorating, crafts, reading non-fiction, crosswords, snowmobiling, camping and building campfires. She loved spending time with her family.
Mrs. Ritchie is survived by her husband Dale; three daughters, Deborah Arsenault and Joanne Bishop, both of Kingston, and Mary Jane Ritchie of Crosby; four sons, Ricky Crissley of Elgin, Danny Ritchie of Seeleys Bay, David Ritchie of Kaladar and Scott Ritchie of Kingston; and 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are her sister Bessie Tyo of Inverary, sons-in-law Eddie Bishop, Terry French and Chris Scullion, daughters-in-law Laura Ritchie, Cindy Chrissley and Joanne Ritchie, and eight nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents and her first husband, she was predeceased by her brother Clifford Simpson and by a grandson, D. Ritchie.
The funeral was held August 9 at the Scotland Funeral Home in Elgin, with Rev. Walter Hegadorn, of Seeleys Bay Standard Church officiating.
The pallbearers were Dale Simpson, Michael Fleurie, Bill Arsenault, Peter Vogelzang, Barry Fleming and Tim Gibson. Honorary pallbearers were Dick Simpson, Norm Ritchie, Charlie Ferguson, Nelson Avery, Terry Avery and Jeffery Wartman.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society and palliative care.
