BARRY ALEXANDER URSELL

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BARRY ALEXANDER URSELL Barry Ursell, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, died on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 30th. He was born in London, England on June 13, 1917, but grew up in Moose Jaw, SK, with his parents Herbert and Louise Ursell and two young men who were like brothers to him, Stan and Harry Noble. He married Irene Motta on April 2, 1942, and they had seven children: Geoffrey (Barbara); Greg (Marilyn) and their children, Stephanie and Michael (Laurel); Gary (Helen), and their children Meaghan and Emily; Patricia; Kathy (Ted), and their children Melissa, Matthew (Dawn, and children Raven, Ariel, and Sierra), and Meredith; Janice; and George (Joanne), and their children Jennifer (Zenon, and son Kieran), Shaun, Bryan, and Robert. Barry was predeceased by Irene in 2008. They had celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary just the year before. He was also predeceased by his brother Herbert and sister Eileen-Anne, and is survived by his sister Mary (of New Zealand). Family members were with him when he died, listening to the final line of Silent Night - Sleep in heavenly peace. Barry finished high school at the age of 16, and completed his first year of university in a University of Saskatchewan program at Moose Jaw's Central Collegiate. But when his father was injured in a railroad accident, Barry had to stop taking classes and go to work for Canada Packers at the age of 18. He worked in Moose Jaw at first and then transferred to Timmins, where he and Irene married. Soon after, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and trained in Toronto, Belleville, Virden, Souris (where he got his Wings in 1943), and Charlottetown (as a pilot navigator). He received further training in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and was then sent to Karachi, India, and finally Kogala, Ceylon. Barry flew recon missions in a Catalina flying boat, looking for U boats, accompanying convoys, and flying supplies from India and Africa. When he returned home he was transferred by Canada Packers to Regina, ending up as Branch Manager. After several years he was transferred again to Saskatoon as the Branch Manager and then to Winnipeg as a sales assistant when the Saskatoon plant closed. During these years he picked up where he'd left off with his formal education and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree through night classes in Saskatoon and Winnipeg. At work he was promoted to Winnipeg Plant Accountant, and then Office Manager. When the company asked him if he wanted to move to Toronto, he said he'd had enough moving. He retired after 47 years with the same company. Barry loved the sport of badminton, which he started playing at age 13. He began winning tournaments in 1934 and went on to win many provincial titles. But he really blossomed after retiring from work. He won 38 Seniors and Masters International titles after he turned 65. The highlight of his badminton career came at age 75 when he entered five Masters events and won them all, a feat accomplished by no other player in these tournaments! He kept playing badminton (and tennis) until very recently. He brought the same highly competitive spirit to the games of Scrabble, bridge, hearts, and cribbage he enjoyed with family and friends. And the New York Times - and other equally complicated - crossword puzzles were a daily feature of his retirement years. He was also dedicated to his workouts at the Reh-Fit Centre, which kept him in good shape after bypass surgery in his 80s. Barry enjoyed family dinners, especially at Christmas, when he always placed the star on top of the tree. Where Irene loved to play songs by opera and jazz singers, Barry enjoyed the lively humour of Gilbert and Sullivan and also liked the Lawrence Welk show. He even learned to sing along with Elvis. After his retirement, he washed a lot of dishes following these special dinners. And after that, there was bound to be a game. Barry's family wish to thank the staff in Palliative Care at Grace Hospital for their compassionate care, and also the excellent family doctors and specialists who helped keep him as healthy as possible over the last years of his life. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Thomson Funeral Home, 669 Broadway in Winnipeg. Friends wishing to celebrate Barry's memory may make donations to The Salvation Army, 203-290 Vaughan Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2N8. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 BROADWAY, WINNIPEG, MB R3C OX4 783-7211 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com

BARRY ALEXANDER URSELL Barry Ursell, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, died on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 30th. He was born in London, England on June 13, 1917, but grew up in Moose Jaw, SK, with his parents Herbert and Louise Ursell and two young men who were like brothers to him, Stan and Harry Noble. He married Irene Motta on April 2, 1942, and they had seven children: Geoffrey (Barbara); Greg (Marilyn) and their children, Stephanie and Michael (Laurel); Gary (Helen), and their children Meaghan and Emily; Patricia; Kathy (Ted), and their children Melissa, Matthew (Dawn, and children Raven, Ariel, and Sierra), and Meredith; Janice; and George (Joanne), and their children Jennifer (Zenon, and son Kieran), Shaun, Bryan, and Robert. Barry was predeceased by Irene in 2008. They had celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary just the year before. He was also predeceased by his brother Herbert and sister Eileen-Anne, and is survived by his sister Mary (of New Zealand). Family members were with him when he died, listening to the final line of Silent Night - Sleep in heavenly peace. Barry finished high school at the age of 16, and completed his first year of university in a University of Saskatchewan program at Moose Jaw's Central Collegiate. But when his father was injured in a railroad accident, Barry had to stop taking classes and go to work for Canada Packers at the age of 18. He worked in Moose Jaw at first and then transferred to Timmins, where he and Irene married. Soon after, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and trained in Toronto, Belleville, Virden, Souris (where he got his Wings in 1943), and Charlottetown (as a pilot navigator). He received further training in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and was then sent to Karachi, India, and finally Kogala, Ceylon. Barry flew recon missions in a Catalina flying boat, looking for U boats, accompanying convoys, and flying supplies from India and Africa. When he returned home he was transferred by Canada Packers to Regina, ending up as Branch Manager. After several years he was transferred again to Saskatoon as the Branch Manager and then to Winnipeg as a sales assistant when the Saskatoon plant closed. During these years he picked up where he'd left off with his formal education and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree through night classes in Saskatoon and Winnipeg. At work he was promoted to Winnipeg Plant Accountant, and then Office Manager. When the company asked him if he wanted to move to Toronto, he said he'd had enough moving. He retired after 47 years with the same company. Barry loved the sport of badminton, which he started playing at age 13. He began winning tournaments in 1934 and went on to win many provincial titles. But he really blossomed after retiring from work. He won 38 Seniors and Masters International titles after he turned 65. The highlight of his badminton career came at age 75 when he entered five Masters events and won them all, a feat accomplished by no other player in these tournaments! He kept playing badminton (and tennis) until very recently. He brought the same highly competitive spirit to the games of Scrabble, bridge, hearts, and cribbage he enjoyed with family and friends. And the New York Times - and other equally complicated - crossword puzzles were a daily feature of his retirement years. He was also dedicated to his workouts at the Reh-Fit Centre, which kept him in good shape after bypass surgery in his 80s. Barry enjoyed family dinners, especially at Christmas, when he always placed the star on top of the tree. Where Irene loved to play songs by opera and jazz singers, Barry enjoyed the lively humour of Gilbert and Sullivan and also liked the Lawrence Welk show. He even learned to sing along with Elvis. After his retirement, he washed a lot of dishes following these special dinners. And after that, there was bound to be a game. Barry's family wish to thank the staff in Palliative Care at Grace Hospital for their compassionate care, and also the excellent family doctors and specialists who helped keep him as healthy as possible over the last years of his life. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Thomson Funeral Home, 669 Broadway in Winnipeg. Friends wishing to celebrate Barry's memory may make donations to The Salvation Army, 203-290 Vaughan Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2N8. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 BROADWAY, WINNIPEG, MB R3C OX4 783-7211 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 02, 2011