Ramon Dennis "Ray" Dilkie
1933-2017

Passed peacefully on July 27, 2017, at the age of 83, at home in Halifax, NS.

Born on December 30th, 1933 in Edmonton, AB. Ray enjoyed a rambunctious youth before joining the Canadian Forces at the young age of 19. Luckily, he was directed away from an MP role for a more skilled job as an Air Force Avionics Technician. Ray met Terry, the love of his life when they were both serving in Germany. There they married and were posted to Sardinia, where their first son, Lee, was born, before returning to Canada in 1960. After brief postings in Trenton, ON and Cold Lake, AB, Ray and the family moved to the east coast, first to Chatham, NB then Summerside, PEI.

Ray was an incredible athlete, competing at National levels in Military badminton and volleyball. He regularly trounced Lee, Trent, and Cathy playing squash at the base. He was an avid curler for many years, and he and Terry competed in and organized numerous bonspiels. His ability to repair pretty much anything, often with jury-rigged contraptions, was legendary. He applied his skills throughout the 60's and 70's repairing televisions and working his holidays as an avionics technician with the New Brunswick spruce budworm program. An amazing hands-on Dad, he was able to pass on so much of what he knew to his kids (and not just the boys!) - swimming, scuba diving, plumbing, wiring, carpentry and fixing cars.

Ray and Terry would pack up the station wagon and travel trailer and take the family on incredible camping adventures throughout the US and Canada. Tales told around the campfire, true or not, gave lasting memories of an innocent and carefree time when the world was watched though the back of that station wagon.

Perhaps some of the happiest times Ray and Terry enjoyed were with the business they created and ran together, The Kitchen Witch Tea Room, in Long River, PEI. Ray built and renovated much of the “The Witch”, as it came to be known, with his bare hands. Terry was the master chef, and Ray was the master builder and they made an unstoppable team. He was a fixture at the front desk welcoming patrons and guiding the staff. His towering stature and sometimes gruff demeanor was betrayed by that playful gleam in his eye. Employees and patrons alike became cherished friends.

For many years, Ray wintered in Florida with Terry and enjoyed a constant stream of visitors from the cold north. Ray and Terry were always welcoming hosts and enjoyed throwing a good party.

Ray is predeceased by his mother Josephine; wife Terry; siblings Nita, Mona and Cecil; daughter-in-law Carol; niece Kelly; special dog, Scamp.

Ray is survived by his partner Esther; sister Dawne (Herb); children Pat (Roland), Lee (Corinne), Trent and Cathy (Ken); grandchildren Julie, Nancy, Christopher, Natasha, Patrick and Alex; great-grandchildren Nellie and Hazel; and sister-in-law Kathleen as well as many nieces and nephews, including Johnathan, Ron, Wayne, Doug, Dallas and Roseanne.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Nova Scotia SPCA (http://spcans.ca/ - click on donate) or the Royal Canadian Legion would be appreciated (http://www.legion.ca/remembrance/donate-to-the-poppy-fund).

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