Sept. 17, 1921 – Feb. 7, 2018 - Arthur James Turland of Kincardine, beloved husband of (Edith) Norine Farrell (d. January, 2017), died Feb. 7, 2018, at Tiverton Park Manor, in his 97th year. Survived and fondly remembered by all seven of his children, Rosemary Addison (Ed), Aurora; George, London; Charles (Rhonda), Kincardine; James (Becky Grieveson), Kincardine; Susan (Bernard Joly, d. 2015), Quebec City; Robert (Eve Geisler), Guelph; and Brenda ​Colquhoun ​(Bob), Kincardine; and by Carol Besler, Toronto. Proud grandfather of 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, and uncle to Peter, Jane and Richard Waite, Helen Turland (Jonathan Sharratt), and Sam, John and Paul Farrell. Predeceased by an older brother, Frank, who died at age seven, as well as younger twin brothers, George and Charles; and sister, Evelyn. Arthur was born in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England, to Rosetta (Brown) and Frank Turland, a county policeman. He finished school at age 14 and worked for a short time in a shoe store and then as an apprentice draftsman at Stewartby Brickworks. In August, 1939, with war imminent, he joined the Royal Air Force just before his 18th birthday and embarked on two years of electronics training, followed by a tour of duty to the Mediterranean. Later in the war, when pilots were needed, he came to Canada as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme. He underwent pilot training in Saskatchewan, and was assigned to instruct new recruits in radar communications at the Air Navigation School in Port Albert, Ontario. During the summer of 1944, he met the love of his life, Norine Farrell, at a dance at the Kincardine Pavilion. They married in February, 1945, just before he was reassigned to the Isle of Man to maintain a signal tower for British pilots. At the end of the war, Arthur returned to Kincardine, his wife and his large new extended Canadian family. He was grateful for the freedom and opportunities Canada offered and embraced his new life here; he loved the outdoors, and filled his days and years with gardening, camping, fishing and other outdoor pursuits. He preferred a rustic picnic on the beach to a fancy restaurant. Arthur started out running a radio/television repair shop in Kincardine. He was then hired as an instructor at the Clinton Air Force Base and moved his growing family to Bayfield and then to Goderich. When the Clinton base closed, the family returned to Kincardine and Arthur worked for the Huron County Board of Education based out of F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham. He enjoyed travelling the back roads to all the county schools, keeping their audio-visual equipment and sound systems in good repair, until he retired. Over the years, Arthur volunteered with the Scouts, and the Kinsmen, as well as an Old Boys’ reunion, and he was a proud member of the Kincardine Legion. He was also an active member of the Kincardine and Ripley horticultural clubs and a district representative of the Ontario Horticultural Association. For his efforts, he was honoured with the planting of a tree on the Kincardine hospital property. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the incredible Tiverton Park Manor staff – each and every one – for the affection, professional care and respect so graciously given to Arthur throughout his time there. Sincere thanks to Dr. Bill Knox and Dr. Jason Murray and CCAC staff for their support and care, and to Legion Padre Eric Williams for his comforting visits during Arthur’s final weeks. Friends are invited to share in the Celebration of Life for Arthur, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at the Royal Canadian Legion, MacDonald Branch 183, 219 Lambton Street, Kincardine. Visitation at 1 p.m., formalities beginning at 2 p.m., with visiting and refreshments following. Memorial donations to the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, Huron Shores Hospice, or a charity of your choice, would be appreciated in lieu of flowers. On-line information at www.greybrucecremation.com/category/condolences/ |
