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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
TODD, David Arthur - David Arthur Todd passed away in his 85th year, on February 14, 2023.
He was born in Owen Sound Ontario on March 31, 1938 to Arthur and Agnes Todd. His older brother Peter pre-deceased him in 1969.
At the tender age of 19, Dave joined the Royal Canadian Navy and so began his life in Nova Scotia. His basic training was at Cornwallis and his 27 years of service as an aircraft mechanic with the RCN were spent at Shearwater or on a ship. After retiring, he worked at the Bedford Magazine for a few years.
While home on leave, Dave met Ruth Wilson of Mount Forest, Ontario. They married in 1959 and have been life partners for these 63 plus years.
They had two daughters. Terri born in Halifax in 1960 and Leanne born in Owen Sound in 1962, during Dave’s brief adventure with the Toronto Township Police Department He rejoined the RCN and returned to Nova Scotia. Dave built the house on Joffre Street in 1963, where he and Ruth raised their family and continue to say goodbye to departing neighbours and welcome new ones.
Dave is survived by his wife Ruth, daughters Terri (Darren Tobin) and Leanne (Paul Wrathall). He was “Boppie” to four grandchildren Mitchell (Meghan) and Joel (Samantha) Tobin, Stephen and Rachael Wrathall. He took great delight in his four great grandchildren Evelyn, Rosaleen, Finnian and Ainsley.
Dave loved and was loved by his extended family of all ages, as well as friends, neighbours and coworkers over the years.
As a young man Dave boxed, played football and hockey. He loved the water and for many years swam every day of the summer in Lake Banook, with his daughters and his dog, Boots, with Ruth watching from the shore. He and Leanne took up scuba diving in the 70’s.
Dave rode his motorcycle well into his 70’s and walked the boardwalk at Lake Banook, the Dartmouth Waterfront and Eastern Passage up until a month ago. There will be many casual acquaintances he met on those walks that will wonder what happened to the friendly fellow.
Dave and Ruth enjoyed more than 20 years as snowbirds, both prior to and after their retirement. Florida was a family event with their daughters and grandchildren joining them for many memorable beach adventures. They also had extended family and friends who vacationed in Florida.
An active participant and advocate for AA, Dave was sober for 47 years. He mentored many others in and out of the program. He was very thankful for his sobriety and the blessings he received from the program. Anywhere he traveled, he would connect with a local group and as a result has friends around the world.
Dave was a man with great capacity to love and communicate with others. He would not hesitate to lend a helping hand and did not judge. He loved a good joke, and even some bad ones. He had a keen intellect, was a reader and loved to have discussions on just about anything. His tall muscular stature did not reveal the pain he suffered over the years from injuries, rheumatoid and osteo arthritis, lymphoma, alcoholism and prostate cancer.
Family was always first for him and he was a relentless encourager, always telling his wife, daughters and grandchildren how proud he was of them. He tried to instill this into his grandsons when he taught them as toddlers to say, “You’re beautiful and I love you.”
Visitation will be held 6-8 pm, Thursday, February 23, 2023 at Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main St, Dartmouth were a funeral service will be held at 2 pm, Friday, February 24, 2023. Interment will take place this summer in Owen Sound Ontario at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation, Club 24 or the Shearwater Aviation Museum Foundation.
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