Ralph Ainslie Shaw
Born In: 1924/08/28
Passed in: Ottawa, Canada
Passed on: May 11th, 2015
Together now with our Lord, Ralph passed away at home in Ottawa, on Monday, May 11, 2015.
Born in Sydney, N.S. on Aug. 28, 1924, Ralph was a lifelong member of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Sydney. In his youth, he attended Sydney Academy and worked at his father’s store “Shaw’s.”
In 1944, Ralph enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces and soon left for the war overseas. He served in the Canadian Infantry and Army of Occupation for just over two years. Upon repatriation, he attended Dalhousie University, where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1950.
He married Vivian Smith in 1958 and shortly thereafter accepted a job in Ottawa with the Federal Government (Department of National Revenue). His work took the family to Europe in the 1970s where he was Customs Attaché at the Canadian Embassy in Brussels, and High Commission in London.
He retired from the civil service in 1984, and returned to Cape Breton to care for his father and sister. During his retirement years, he served as an elder and choir member at Bethel Church, and was a member of the Kiwanis Club – Cape Breton Golden K.
In 2004, he moved to Ottawa to be closer to his children and grandchildren, and attended St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Vivian; his children, Aynslie (Peter Rawson, Sarnia), Allison and William (Ottawa);, his grandchildren, John, Annabel, Mary-Kate and Violet Rawson (Sarnia); his brother Donald (Marguerite) Shaw (Florida); his nephews, Richard (Jennie, Boston) and Andrew Shaw (Bangkok); goddaughter Patricia Harriss (Gabarus); grandnieces and nephew Danielle, Jocelyn and Jackson Shaw (Boston); many MacKeigan, Newell and McDonald cousins.
He was predeceased by this parents Percy and Katherine Shaw, and his sister Leta Elaine.
A Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving was held at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, on May 18, 2015. Committal of ashes will occur at Hardwood Hill Cemetery, Sydney at a later date.
For those who wish, contributions in Ralph’s memory may be directed to Bethel Presbyterian Church, Sydney.
