WOOD – Vernon “Ralph” 

Ralph passed away peacefully on June 30, 2022 at the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Ontario at the age of 95. Predeceased by his beloved wife of 50 years Rubyna Wood (Fawcett) in 2007 and wife Helen Lavender, whom he married in 2010.  Dear father of Ross Wood (Terri) of Thornbury and Bruce Wood (Martine) of Ottawa. Proud grandfather of Brad (Kat), Scott (Brittany), Abigail and Isaac. He will be fondly remembered not only by his immediate family, but by his many nieces and nephews.

Ralph was born in Edmonton, Alberta on April 23, 1927, the son of Emory and Elizabeth (McKay). Ralph is predeceased by his sisters Helen, Ruth (Patterson), Doreen and brothers James (Jimmy) and Stirling. 

He joined the Army as a teenager at the tail end of WWII and spent time in Thunder Bay producing aircraft. Returning to Alberta, he met Rubyna, a young pharmacist, and they were married in Rainy River in 1956.

Ralph had a successful career as a chartered accountant, counting automobile manufacturers and credit unions among his clients, retiring in 1985 as a managing partner of Deloitte. His retirement years were spent at the “farm” near Bethany and in Lindsay.  

Golf, bridge, and get-togethers with family and friends were highlights for Ralph. Ralph and Rubyna spent winters in Florida and they loved to travel, visiting many interesting places, such as  Cuba in 1973, the 1976 Canada-Soviet Hockey Summit in Moscow, South America, Egypt and Europe. Later, he also travelled to China, Mongolia and South Africa.

Ralph defied aging, skiing and skating into his eighties and travelling and golfing into his nineties. His lively spirit touched the lives of many in his community and he will be dearly missed.

Cremation has already taken place and a family graveside service will be held at a future date at the Riverside Cemetery in Lindsay.  

The family would like to thank the staff at Ross Memorial Hospital and Adelaide Place for their exceptional care of Ralph. As an expression of sympathy, donations can be made in his memory to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation.

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