Obituary of Ralph Spencer MacLean

MacLean Royal Canadian Air Force Insignia Legion Crest Peacefully at L.H.S.C. Westminster Campus on Wednesday September 22, 2004 Ralph Spencer MacLean, born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, December 24, 1919 the eldest child of Moffat and Mabel McInnes MacLean. Survived by his wife Clare, his son Ian (Pat) of Kelowna, B.C., granddaughters Jamie MacLean of Kelowna B.C., and Sarah Westnedge of Sydney, Australia. Dear brother of Florence, Mrs. G. C. Warren of Vero Beach, Florida, and Aileen, Mrs. R. B. Quinn of Medicine Hat, Alberta. Predeceased by his son Charles Terrence, November 1970 and his daughter Katharine Clare, October 1982; his brothers William Reginald, January 1982, and James Henry, April 2002. He will be missed by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Anne MacLean, Fran MacLean, Elizabeth and Allan Evoy, Mary Gwen and Dennis Duggan and George Warren and Russel Quinn, as well as many nieces and nephews. He loved golf, making furniture, flying--he took lessons and earned his pilots license in 1975. Flying his Cessna 180 gave him great pleasure. At an early age Ralph moved with his family to Summerside, where he was educated and where he became a licensed plumber and licensed electrician. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, trained in Toronto and Saskatoon and once overseas at the Rolls Royce Factory where he studied Merlin engines. He joined the only Canadian Path Finder Squadron # 405, as a flight engineer and was promoted to engineer leader with 405. He flew over fifty-five trips with the Pathfinders, one of which over Peenemunde, successfully delayed the production of buzz bombs for many months. Ralph was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courageous service. He returned to Canada in 1944 flying in a Halifax bomber which landed at Aylmer, Ontario. There he was in charge of Flight Engineer Training. In September of 1945 he joined the Empire Brass Manufacturing Company as a pricer, and was selected to become a trainee in the company's first sales training course, under the direction of the late Mr. C. N. Chapman. In March 1946 Ralph was transferred to Vancouver, B. C., his territory was the interior of the province. He lived in Vernon and then in Penticton. In September of 1949, he became branch manager in Sudbury, Ontario. In June 1953 he transferred to Winnipeg, Manitoba as branch manager. In June of 1961 he moved to Toronto, Ontario as vice president of marketing and eastern regional manager. In September 1969 Ralph returned to London as vice president of the Supply Division of the company EMCO, and Senior Vice President--a position he held until retirement in December 1984. Ralph was a man of integrity, highly regarded by his company personnel and members of the plumbing and heating industry, which he served well throughout his career. He was chairman of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating in 1977-1978. Visitors will be received at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock. Funeral Mass at St. Pius X Church, 777 Valetta Street, on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. Interment in St. Peter's Cemetery. Prayers 7 at o'clock. If you desire donations to Prostate Cancer Research or a charity of choice would be appreciated. Flowers gratefully declined.