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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
ROSS,
Ian Sutherland - 84, Caribou, Pictou County. It is with deep sadness
that we announce the passing of Ian Ross on Friday, April 4, 2008 with his
family at his bedside. Born December 9, 1923 in Westville, Ian was the son
of the late Thomas Ross and Minnie C. (Sutherland) Ross. While Ian had a
full and remarkable life, from being a veteran of WWII and the battle of the
Atlantic, to running his own business and volunteering his time to numerous
community organizations and associations, his greatest passion was his
family and the many friends he made wherever he went. Ian began his career
in the late 1950s at the Ferguson Shipyards in Pictou. In January 1942, he
along with several close friends from Westville and Stellarton joined the
Royal Canadian Navy. After training as a shipwright in Toronto, Cornwallis
and the navy Dockyard in Halifax, Ian sailed the waters of the North
Atlantic, first aboard HMCS KOKANEE (frigate stationed out of St. John’s),
and later as chief shipwright aboard HMCS MIDDLESEX (minesweeper stationed
out of Halifax). After the war, Ian returned to Westville and worked for
Sutherland and Higgins garage and Service Station. In 1951, Ian took over a
Texaco service station on Foord Street in Stellarton and expanded his
business in 1962 by starting a home heating fuel delivery service. In 1971
he left the service station and took over management of the Texaco bulk
plant in New Glasgow while continuing his fuel delivery business. Ian
retired from Ian Ross Services Ltd. in 1987. Ian belonged to the New Glasgow
Rotary Club, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Independent Order of Oddfellows,
and was a very active member in the Masonic Order. Ian was past master of
Western Star Lodge #50 in Westville, and past district deputy grand master
for Pictou County. He was also a member of the Scottish rite and the
Shriners. From a young age Ian became a prolific marksman. He joined the
Pictou County Military Rifle Association and competed at many local and
provincial events, and later went on to be a founding member of the Pictou
County Trap and Skeet Club where he found his forte with trap shooting. Ian
competed and won many awards at the local, provincial and national level. He
was chair of the Town of Stellarton’s Centennial Celebrations in 1989, and
received Provincial recognition for his exceptional volunteer service. Most
recently, Ian along with fellow members of the Admiral Murray Royal Canadian
Naval Association received recognition from the Navy and the Halifax
Regional Municipality for their role in restoring and presenting a
centennial plaque. Along his journey through life, Ian made many friends. He
could travel far and wide and always run into someone he knew. He was a
caring and honest individual who would never be afraid to let you know his
opinion, but would always be interested in the opinion of others. He had a
keen sense of humour, and reveled in kidding or tormenting his friends.
Above all else, Ian loved and cared for his family. He was very proud of his
favorite granddaughter Crystal, and his favorite grandson Thomas, playing
Santa to both of them for many years, and teaching them the two types of
good. He was a wonderful dad to his son David and daughter-in-law Brenda.
But more than anything, Ian was a loving and dedicated husband to his wife
of 56 years, Velma (Weir) Ross. Ian will be missed but long remembered.
Cremation to take place. The family will receive visitors from 3 to 5 and 7
to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the H.C. MacQuarrie funeral home, Stellarton A
memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday from the H.W. Angus funeral
home chapel, New Glasgow with Rev. Charles MacPherson officiating. Burial of
ashes will take place in Heatherdale memorial gardens, Alma. In lieu of
flowers, donations in memory of Ian may be made to the VON or to any
charity.
ROSS, Ian Sutherland - Ian enlisted in the RCN in Charlottetown on January 3rd, 1942, with several of his friends from Pictou County, Nova Scotia (Raymond Muir, Carthew MacDonald, Collie Fraser, Sinclair MacRae all from Westville, NS; and Richard (Dunc) Chisholm from Stellarton, NS). Ian spent 3 days at HMCS QUEEN CHARLOTTE before being drafted to HMCS YORK located in Toronto. Ian studied at both The Danforth Technical College and The Toronto Shipyards to be a Navy Shipwright. From Toronto Ian was sent to HMCS CORNWALLIS, NS, for basic training. Ian was then drafted to HMCS SCOTIAN, the Navy dockyard in Halifax where he worked for several months before being drafted aboard HMCS KOKANEE, one of the new frigates built to replace the corvettes. The KOKANEE was based out of St. John's, Newfoundland, and operated in the North Atlantic. Several months later, Ian was sent to Wentworth Technical College in Hamilton to receive further training. After returning to Halifax after three months, Ian was drafted aboard HMCS MIDDLESEX, an Algerine Class Minesweeper, as Chief Shipwright. The MIDDLESEX was brand new and was slated to be sent to the Pacific War Theatre when the war with Japan ended. Ian returned to civilian life after the war and eventually established his own home fuel delivery business in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Although retired from the Service, Ian became a keen historian of the Second World War and a strong advocate for the RCN. He became involved in helping the local branch of Navy Cadets, and was a founding member of the Pictou County Admiral Murray Navy Association. Ian, along with several members of the Association were responsible for reuniting a centennial plaque presented to the Navy by the City of Halifax. This plaque now resides at the Wall of Valour at CFB Halifax next to Admiralty House. (source: Facebook Group - Westville, Past and Present)
Ships served in: HMCS QUEEN CHARLOTTE - Enlisted 03 Jan 1942
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