Obituary of Raymond Thomas Wall

Raymond Thomas Wall passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 14, 2006 at the Rockyview General Hospital. Ray was born in Medicine Hat, AB on January 26, 1921. He was educated in Medicine Hat and went on to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force in WW II. During the war, Ray was based in England in Squadron #408 Lancaster “Goose” Squadron. He was a POW in Stalag Luft III, site of the famous “Great Escape”. After the war, Ray returned to Canada and married Jean Elizabeth Flath. Jean passed away in 1964. Ray worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad for almost twenty-eight years before beginning his career in Transportation Planning for the School Division #4 in Medicine Hat. In 1973, Ray moved to Calgary with the Rockyview School District where he stayed until his retirement in 1986. Outside of family and work, Ray loved gardening and travelling. He was an avid gardener and loved helping others. Ray was active in hospital visitation and church work. For years he tended the gardens at Heritage Park, and gladly helped seniors in his neighbourhood. He served as an instructor with No. 15 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron for nearly twenty-five years and was an active member of the RCAF Ex-POW association, a strong supporter of the Calgary Aerospace Museum, and the Nanton Lancaster Museum. Ray is survived by his loving wife Joan; two sons Tom (JoAnne) of Coaldale, AB, and Doug (Pauline) of The Woodlands, TX; and daughter Donnalee (Keith) of Marathon, ON; five grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Millie (Bob) of Surrey, BC, and his sister-in-law Joyce Anderson of Redwood Meadows and her two daughters, Denise and Heather. Ray was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Eleanor Wall. Funeral services will be held at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (703 Heritage Drive S.W.) on Wednesday, January 18 at 1:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Nanton Lancaster Museum, PO Box 1051, Nanton, Alberta T0L 1R0 Telephone: (403) 646-2270 or directly to The Back Door, Box 46067 Inglewood RPO, Calgary, Alberta T2G 5H7 (403) 269-6658. The Wall family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Peter Wash and the caring nursing staff and transfer teams on Unit 61 at the Rockyview General Hospital for the wonderful care and attention during his extended stay in the hospital. In living memory of Ray Wall, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.