- PARKER, Ralph Smith Rupert
Originally from Hantsport, died suddenly at his residence in Vancouver, B.C., on February 13, 2015. Ralph (or Parker as he preferred to be called) was born in Middleton, on July 13, 1939 to Mildred Bernice Boyd (Smith, Parker) and Charles Otis Parker of South Williamston. He lived his early childhood in South Williamson, North Kingston, Berwick and Hantsport, graduating from Hantsport High School before traveling across Canada. Ralph worked in Winnipeg and obtained his RN before moving to Vancouver where he first worked at Vancouver General Hospital for many years as a Kidney Dialysis Technician having obtained training in this field in Seattle, U.S.A. After successfully completing this course, he returned to work at Vancouver General. He worked at St. Paul’s Hospital in the E.R. department for years before his retirement. He was known for his great ability to deal with very difficult people in all phases of his hospital work. A kind man, Ralph was always willing to lend a helping hand to everyone. He loved sitting on the benches and meeting people and could have a good conversation no matter the person. He loved going to Wreck Beach and spent many enjoyable hours there with friends. Ralph was a born actor having taken the lead part in high school plays and was able to imitate anyone. He will be remembered for his excellent storytelling; he had a wonderful sense of humour, and a quick wit. He had an excellent singing voice in his youth and won first place as a soloist in many music festivals. He took up knitting beautiful ski sweaters, cozy afghans, and blankets which he carried on doing during his retirement years. He enjoyed the sailing trips he took with his friend Michael and playing his autoharp which once belonged to Sarah Carter of the famous Carter Family. He loved to listen to both classical music, and the old Carter Family CDs. He was a voracious reader of murder mysteries. Ralph was predeceased by his mother, Mildred Boyd (Smith, Parker) (of Hantsport) and Charles Parker who was killed in action at Ortona, Italy, in the Second World War when Ralph was five years old. He was also predeceased by his stepfather, Albert Boyd (of Hantsport). He will be missed by his long-time school friend, Bob Marsters, Hantsport, and his many friends in Vancouver.
|