Obituary of Ronald Arthur Winstanley

Ronald Arthur Winstanley, of Calgary, passed away on Friday, July 20, 2007 at the age of 94 years. Ronald was born February 11, 1913 in Wombwell, Yorkshire, England, the only child of Herbert and Lily (Eden) Winstanley. The family moved to Canada in 1920 and settled in the Vancouver area. Ron trusted Christ as his Saviour in 1931, and joined the Metropolitan Tabernacle in the summer of 1934. He went to Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills, Alberta, in 1933, graduating in the spring of 1936. In the fall of 1935 he was accepted by the Evangelical Union of South America (later merged with Gospel Missionary Union and now known as Avant Ministries). In the spring of 1937 he became engaged to Amy Irene McElheran of Three Hills, who had graduated in 1935. Along with a senior missionary couple and another new recruit, Ron went to Bolivia, South America in the fall of 1937. A year later a second group arrived, consisting of four young ladies, including Amy. They were married June 1, 1939 on a farm in Aripalca, Bolivia and were sent to begin gospel work in the village of San Lucas. During their second term they began a church planting ministry in the city of Sucre, where they served for many years. In 1970 they moved to the city of Cochabamba for a teaching ministry in a Bible School there. In 1973 the Home Board requested them to return to Canada to be mission representatives. They made their home in Calgary while Ron travelled extensively in a missionary, Bible teaching and prophetic ministry. In 1983 Ron and Amy were placed on the retiree list. Since their move to Calgary they have attended Grace Baptist Church, where Ron taught an adult Bible class for a number of years. Amy passed into the presence of the Lord on September 8, 1994. Ron is survived by his four children; Edith of Calgary, Ernest of Comox, BC, Herbert of Langley, BC and Dorothy (Foster) of Calgary; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at Grace Baptist Church , (2670 Radcliffe Drive, S.E.), on Wednesday, July 25, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to Avant Ministries, 2121 Henderson Highway, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2G 1P8. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Ronald Winstanley, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Eastside Memorial Chapel, 5388 MEMORIAL DRIVE N.E. Telephone: (403) 248-8585.