Deaths | deces

2776 LEE, William E. (RMC 1940) C.D. Major RCHA (retired) Passed peacefully away in his sleep, December 9th, 2007 in his 86th year. Born Thorndale, Ontario, 12 October, 1922, educated there, in London, Ontario and Royal Military College from 1940 – 42. “D” Day veteran serving with 94th Bty 3rd Cdn A/tk Regiment. Continued to serve in the Regular Army retiring in 1967. Then employed with the Ontario government, first as Director of Research for the PC Party Caucus and latterly as General Manager of the Old Fort William Historic Site in Thunder Bay. Past Master, Kaministiqua Lodge No 584; 32 degree Scottish Rite, Vale of Fort William; past member of Concorde Lodge. No79, Parksville. Founder member of the Reform Party of Canada and first president of the local constituency association; member Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 76; lifelong member Anglican Church. Married to Mary Aldythe McGregor in Fort William Ontario, 21 June, 1947. Blessed with six children; Gregor, Robert, Ina, Mary, David and Barbara and nine grandchildren; Clio, Zoe, Nathan, Malorie, Meaghan, Celia, William, Mathew and Adam. Memorial service was held Friday, 21 December, 2007.

RCNC89 Lt.-Cdr. (ret’d) Donald Kempton Gamblin, Sr. (RRMC 1942), CD, RCN., passed away Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at Cumberland Regional Health Centre, Upper Nappan, Nova Scotia. In the fall of 1942 at the age of 17, he was selected to enter the first regular training course at the Royal Roads Naval College as a midshipman. Don joined H.M.C.S. Uganda serving in the South Pacific, followed by H.M.S. Hogue and H.M.S. Reaper, H.M.C.S. Warrior; H.M.C.S. Magnificent; Navigator of the Weather Ship at St. Stephen; H.M.C.S. Stadacona; H.M.C.S. Brunswicker; Executive Officer H.M.C.S. Prestonian; Naval Liaison Officer at Naval Research, Dartmouth; Staff Officer Underwater Weapons, Ottawa; Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, H.M.C.S. Haida; Commanding Officer H.M.C.S. Swansea; Maritime Warfare School as Director of Surface Tactics. His last appointment was Senior Staff Officer, Naval Intelligence, Maritime Command. Upon retiring to Spencer’s Island, Don took an active role in all community affairs and was Town Clerk of Parrsboro for seven years. He served as Trustee and treasurer of the Spencer’s Island Union Church and the Advocate United Church Pastoral Charge. He was instrumental in establishing a branch of the Cumberland Regional Library in Advocate. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Betty Styles, their children and grandchildren.

RRA2 BROUGHTON, H. Lorne (RRMC 1949) Lorne was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on August 29, 1929, the youngest of four children. He died on December 19 of cancer. His wife of 53 years, Lorraine, and his daughters Kathleen (Douglas) Snetsinger and Anne Beauchamp loved him deeply and feel honoured to have been with him when he passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord and Saviour. He was predeceased by his daughter, Ellen, in 2006 and by his siblings, Lance, George and Irene. Also, he will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, James, Katie and Andrea Snetsinger and by many other relatives and friends. He graduated from Royal Roads Military College in 1949 into a career in the RCAF serving for 38 years in every province from Alberta to PEI as well as Germany and Belgium. Later, he became the Western Rep of the Canadian Airline Pilots Assoc. in Vancouver and finally served five years on the staff of the Victoria Commonwealth Games Society. He was always involved in the local church and volunteered at the Victoria General Hospital; as a driver for the Cancer Society for 10 years and at the info desk at Victoria Airport for 12 years. Lorne loved his family and was a great son, husband, father, grandfather and friend. Expressions of sympathy already received include, “Lorne was an officer and a gentleman, admired and respected; a generous and selfless man; capable and interesting; a man of character who radiated love and kindness; a great host; a valued mentor”. A celebration of Lorne’s life was held on December 28, 2007