EDWARD THORNHILL

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EDWARD THORNHILL Edward Thornhill, CD, passed away at the Grace Hospice, Winnipeg, November 8, 2006. He was predeceased by his father Alfred Thornhill; mother Doris Jessie Thornhill; daughter Donna Carol Thornhill; and by his sister Lillian May Smith. Ed is survived by his loving wife Hazel; sons, Gerald (Judy), Allan (Judie) and their children and grandchildren; Ronald (Patti) and their children; by his sister Barbara Smith and children; his brother Arthur and their families; by his sister Lillian's family; and by his cousins of the John Edgar family. Ed was born on a farm three miles south-west of Manitou, MB. In his childhood, the family moved into a house on Fuller St. in Manitou. Ed attended the Manitou Consolidated School through Grade 12 and he was active with the St. Andrews United Church. In 1936 he joined the Manitoba Mounted Rifles at Camp Shilo, transferring shortly after this to the Royal Canadian Air Force, the first air force recruit from his community. In 1942 he married Hazel Scharf, an event which he often described as the best thing that ever happened to him. Hazel and their three sons accompanied him to #1 Air Division H.Q., France, in 1954 and to Germany in 1963, during the Cold War. He served 30 years in the RCAF in various capacities in aircraft maintenance, as a pilot, as senior air traffic control officer, Canadian Forces, Europe, concluding with a six month peace mission in the Belgian Congo, retiring as a Squadron Leader in 1966. After retirement, Ed continued in aviation, held office as Executive Assistant to President Max Martin in Trans-Air and other offices until Trans-Air amalgamated with Western Pacific Airlines in 1969. He held special term offices with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce in its Winnipeg Centennial year in 1970. In 1971 he served with Statistics Canada as one of two Regional Directors in North West Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. In 1972 to 1978 he was the sole employee of the Manitoba Aviation Council. He was one of the founding members of the Western Canadian Aviation Museum, and a director of the Manitoba Air Show. In 1971 Ed began to volunteer intensively with the Manitoba Society of Seniors, eventually becoming a life member. Although in full retirement, he remained active with hobbies, travel, and wrote a book From Buggies to Jets , relating his life experiences in changing environments and including categorized appendices of community participation in Second World War. One of his favorite slogans: If you would have good neighbours, you must be one. Spending time with his co-workers, neighbours, and especially with family was one of his life's delights, as was his membership in various organizations, latterly the Army Navy Air Force Unit 283 and his beloved Breakfast Club. Another saying, and this one from his bed at the Grace Hospice, I've been a very lucky man. Funeral services will be held at the Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, Monday, November 13 at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed's name may be made to the Grace Hospice or Hospital, or to the Canadian Cancer Society. Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth... ... Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 11, 2006