RICHARD (DICK) THORNHILL

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RICHARD (DICK) THORNHILL With great sorrow the family wishes to announce the passing of Richard (Dick) Thornhill on Sunday, July 10, 2011, at the Grace Hospital. Richard is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ida and his three children, Donna, Robert, and Patricia (Bill). He will also be missed by his younger sister Mary Thornhill (Toronto), sister-in-law Mia Thornhill (Toronto), nieces Frankie, Janet and nephew Bruce, as well as a wealth of family and friends. Richard was predeceased by his parents Reginald and Evelyn and older brother Phil. With a life that spanned close to 91 years, Richard's contributions to the world were numerous. He enjoyed three different careers of close to 20 years each, and all involved his skill and talent as a machinist. Dad's curiosity and inventiveness were appreciated by those who worked with him and by the many people who benefitted from his efforts. Born September 26, 1920, Dad grew up in the Beaches area of Toronto. His mechanical abilities were evident early on when he built his own sailboat as a teenager. Richard served his country in the RCAF during the Second World War as part of the ground crew and as a Flight Engineer on Lancaster bombing missions. He rejoined the Air Force in the 1950s, finally retiring and relocating to Winnipeg in 1970. He then found his dream job working for Rehab Engineering, Special Devices at the Health Sciences Centre, where he helped numerous clients achieve a greater sense of independence. When he reluctantly retired in 1990 after recovering from a stroke, Richard returned to his love of aviation by volunteering at the Western Canada Aviation Museum. He continued to work and restore aircrafts until the beginning of his illness several months ago. His expertise and good natured sense of humour will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. We would like to thank the many family members and friends who frequently visited Dad in the hospital the past several months and helped boost his spirits. We also extend our appreciation to the staff of the Grace Hospital for their compassionate care. Flowers are gratefully declined. However, donations to either the Salvation Army or the Western Canada Aviation Museum (Restorations) would be greatly appreciated. At Richard's request, there will be no formal funeral service. However, please join the family for an informal celebration of his life which will be held on Saturday, August 13 at the Western Canada Aviation Museum (2nd Floor) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 16, 2011