Obituary announcement for club member Cheverie, Gerard Francis (Gerry) LM144

Cheverie, Gerard Francis (Gerry)

At the Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ottawa, Saturday, February 14, 2015 in his 78th year of Gerard Francis (Gerry) Cheverie of Ottawa, formerly of Charlottetown, PEI. Loving husband of June Elizabeth (Arnold). Dear father of Paul (Anne), Perry (Cathy), and Christopher (Karen). Loving grandfather of Alice, James, and Kassandra. Loving step-grandfather of Jillian, Karina, Holly and Spencer. Brother of Father Charlie, John Arnold "Red" (Ginny), Carl (Linda), Winston (Marina), Wayne (Terri) and David (Elizabeth). Predeceased by his sisters Dorothy Knight (Jim), and Mary Jenkins (Harold), and his parents, Charles and Clara Cheverie. He will also be missed by numerous nieces and nephews.

Gerard proudly served his country in the Canadian Armed Forces (Canadian Signal Corps) for 30 years.

Family and friends are invited to Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue (East of Vanier Parkway), Friday, February 20, 2015, from 6 to 9p.m. Funeral mass will be celebrated at Annunciation of The Lord Parish, 2414 Ogilvie Rd, Gloucester on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 11a.m.
Family flowers only. Memorial donations may be made to Action Life Ottawa http://www.actionlife.org/index.php/donation-and-membership or Heart and Stroke Foundation http://www.heartandstroke.com/donate‎ Tributes may be sent via Lifetimes at www.beechwoodottawa.ca

Obituary notice for club member Gerry Cheverie LM144

Club Member and old friend of mine Gerry Cheverie passed away last Saturday in Ottawa at the Queensway Carleton hospital. No firm details yet. Gerry and I served at CFS Carp 701 Comm Sqn in the late '60s. He was a Sigs tech career manager at one time.
Ron Burnley

Obituary announcement for club member Leonard W. Pepper LM153

Leonard W. Pepper October 2, 1917 - January 27, 2013 Obituary Leonard W. Pepper, born October 2, 1917 to George W. Pepper and Gertrude Hope Pepper in Ottawa, Canada died at the age of 95 on January 27, 2013 in Georgetown, Texas. Len had a long and fruitful life beginning with his career in the Canadian army in 1936. He achieved the rank of Master Sargent with many awards for marksmanship before he retired in 1960 to move to San Jose, California. He began his next career with IBM as a computer analyst. During those years he and his wife Irene were actively involved in the IOOF. Len retired once again after another 20 years and began traveling across the US and Canada before settling in... Leonard W. Pepper, born October 2, 1917 to George W. Pepper and Gertrude Hope Pepper in Ottawa, Canada died at the age of 95 on January 27, 2013 in Georgetown, Texas. Len had a long and fruitful life beginning with his career in the Canadian army in 1936. He achieved the rank of Master Sargent with many awards for marksmanship before he retired in 1960 to move to San Jose, California. He began his next career with IBM as a computer analyst. During those years he and his wife Irene were actively involved in the IOOF. Len retired once again after another 20 years and began traveling across the US and Canada before settling in Brownsville, Texas. Love of his family lured him to Georgetown for his final years. Len will be sorely missed by all his survivors: son, Garry Pepper, of Fall City, Oregon; daughter, Nancy Pepper, of Jarrell, Texas; son, Stephen Pepper and wife Mary of Georgetown, Texas; grandchildren, Melissa Pepper of Jarrell, Texas and Stephen Pepper and wife Sarah of Ft.Worth, Texas; and great granddaughter, Alice also of Ft. Worth, Texas. There are no services planned at this time. Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.

Obituary announcement for club member Lenard Henry Parsons LM594

PARSONS, Lenard Henry - Warrant Officer (Retired) Passed away quietly at home, on Thursday, February 12, 2015, age 76 years. Beloved husband of Elisabeth (Betty) Spindler and by previous marriage to the late Dora Kulla. Loving father of Michael (Mishell) of Ottawa, Christine of Brampton and stepfather of Peter (Elke) of BC and Frank (Catherin) of Kingston. Loving grandfather of Alayna (Jamie), Amanda, Matthew (Jane) all of Ottawa, Jacob and Hailey of Brampton, and step grandfather of Julie and James of BC, Riley and Aaron of Kingston. Proud great grandfather of 4. Lenard retired from the Signaller's Regiment after many years of service. In accordance with Lenard's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH , 1111 Taylor-Kidd Boulevard, on Saturday, February 21 at 1:30 pm., followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Inurnment in Brampton Memorial Gardens at a later date. As expressions of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kingston Humane Society or The Salvation Army, in Lenard's memory.

Obituary notice for club member Traversy JGJ (Jacques) LM568

This is to let you know that my husband Jacques Traversy, life member of the Sigs Club has passed away on Friday January 30th, arrangements to be made this afternoon.

Ritta Traversy  Ritta's email address is:  jacquestraversy@videotron.ca

Obituary notice for club member Tom Purdy LM133

Deceased at Halifax, 16 Dec 2014.  There was no obituary announcement.

Biography of GENERAL RAMSEY M. WITHERS, CMM, CStJ, CD, D Eng, D Mil Sc, P Eng (Retired)

General Ramsey Withers served 35 years in the Regular Force and six years in the Militia; this included the Korean War, appointments in command at all levels and staff positions throughout Canada and overseas; subsequently, his reserve service was as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Governor-General’s Foot Guards.  Commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, on graduation from RMC in 1952, his first posting was to 1 R 22eR in Korea.  His first appointment as a general officer was in 1970 as the founding Commander of Canadian Forces Northern Region, with headquarters in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

He subsequently commanded Canadian Forces Europe, in the rank of major-general, and, in 1977 on promotion to lieutenant-general, returned to Canada as Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.  In 1980, on promotion to general, he was appointed Canada’s sixth Chief of the Defence Staff and Principal Commander of the Order of Military Merit.

Retiring from the Canadian Forces, in 1983, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport Canada and served under Ministers Pépin, Axworthy, Mazankowski and Crosbie.  He retired from the Public Service in 1988.

Decorations include Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Commander of the Venerable Order of St. John and the Canadian Forces decoration with two bars.  He served from 1977 to 1990 on the National Council of Scouts Canada and was awarded the Silver Wolf.  Other awards include the Canada Medal (1967), the Canada 125 Medal, The Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals, The Commissioner’s Award of the Northwest Territories, the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada and the National Transportation Award of Excellence.

From 1988 to 1998, he worked in the private sector as president of one government relations firm and founding chairman of another, as a director of an aerospace technology company and as a consultant to the Office of the Auditor General.  Latterly he was chairman of the 1998 Royal Military College Board of Governors Study on Undergraduate Programs.

A Professional Engineer, he has degrees from The Royal Military College of Canada and Queen’s University.  He is a graduate of the Canadian Army Staff College and Britain’s Joint Services Staff College.  Ramsey Withers holds two doctorates (honoris causa), is a Fellow of Georgian College and an honorary graduate of the National Defence College and the NATO Defense College.  He was the recipient of the 1995 Queen’s University Alumni Achievement Award and the 1996 Bi-Centennial Award of Merit from the City of Scarborough.  In 2002, on being nominated by The Royal Canadian Legion, he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

Ramsey Withers is a former Trustee of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation and was, from 1988 to 1995, Chairman of the Canadian War Museum Committee.  He is also a former Director of the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, and is an Honorary Life Director of the Friends of the Canadian War Museum. From 1997 to 2003 he was an elected member of Queen’s University Council and, currently, is Honorary President of the Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada as well as an Honorary Life Member.  He also served as a Director of the CDA Institute.

He married Alison Saunders, in 1954. Sadly, Alison died on 19 October 2011. They are both survived by their son, twin daughters and eleven grandchildren.

Le Général Ramsey Withers a été membre de la force régulière pendant 35 ans et membre de la milice pour six ans, une période couvrant la Guerre de Corée, des nominations de commandement à tous les niveaux ainsi que des positions d’état-major à travers le Canada et outre-mer. Par la suite, son service au sein de la réserve fut en tant que Lieutenant-Colonel Honoraire des Governor-General’s Foot Guards. Commissionné au grade de lieutenant au Corps Royal des Transmissions à sa graduation du CMR en 1952, il est muté au 1R22eR en Corée. Sa première affectation en tant que Général fut en 1970 à titre de Commandant fondateur de la Région du Nord des Forces Canadiennes, depuis ses quartier-généraux de Yellowknife, Territoires du Nord-Ouest.

Il commande par la suite les Forces Canadiennes en Europe au rang de major-général, et, en 1977 après avoir été promu au rang de lieutenant-général, retourne au Canada en tant que Vice-Chef de l’état-major de la Défense. En 1980, suite à une promotion au rang de général, il devient le sixième Chef d’état-major de la Défense du Canada, et commandeur principal de l’Ordre du Mérite Militaire.

Se retirant des Forces Canadiennes en 1983, il est nommé sous-ministre de Transports Canada, travaillant pour les ministres Pépin, Axworthy, Mazankowski et Crosbie. Il se retire de la fonction publique en 1988.

Il est Commandeur de l’Ordre du Mérite Militaire, Commandeur de l’Ordre Vénérable de St-Jean et possède la décoration des Forces Canadiennes avec deux barrettes. Il fut de 1977 à 1990 sur le conseil national des Scouts du Canada et décerné le Silver Wolf. Parmi ses autres distinctions, on compte la Médaille du Canada (1967), la Médaille du 125ie du Canada, les médailles du jubilé d’Argent et d’Or de la Reine, le prix du Commissionnaire des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, le prix pour contribution exceptionnelle de la fonction publique du Canada et le prix d’excellence du Transport National.

De 1988 à 1998, il a travaillé dans le secteur privé à titre de président d’une firme de relations gouvernementales et président du conseil d’une autre, administrateur d’une compagnie de technologies aérospatiales et consultant au Bureau du Vérificateur Général.

Il a gradué du collège d'état-major de l'armée canadienne et du Britain’s Joint Services Staff College. Ramsey Withers a deux doctorats (honoris causa), est un member du Georgian College, un gradué honoraire du Collège de la Défense nationale et du Collège de défense de l'OTAN. En 2002, suite à sa nomination par la Légion royale canadienne, il reçu la Médaille du jubilé d’or de la Reine Elizabeth II.

Ingénieur professionnel, il possède des diplômes du Collège Militaire Royal du Canada et de Queen’s University.  Il est diplômé de l’École d’État-Major de l’Armée et de l’École d’État-Major Inter-Armées de la Grande-Bretagne.  Ramsey Withers possède deux doctorats honorifiques, est un Fellow de Georgian College et un diplôme honorifique du Collège National de la Défense et du Collège de l’OTAN. Il fut récipiendaire du Alumni Achievement Award de Queen’s University en 1995 ainsi que du Bi-Centennial Award of Merit de la ville de Scarborough.

Ramsey Withers est un ancien administrateur du Musée de la civilisation et fut, de 1988 à 1995, président du conseil du comité du Musée canadien de la guerre. Il est également ancien administrateur de l’Institut canadien des études stratégiques et un administrateur honorifique des Amis du Musée canadien de la guerre. De 1997 à 2003 il fut membre élu du Conseil Universitaire de Queen’s University et encore à ce jour, il est Président Honorifique du Club du Collège Militaire Royal du Canada et Membre Honorifique

Il a marié Alison Saunders en 1954; malheureusement, Alison est décédée le 19 octobre 2011. Ils laissent dans le deuil un fils, deux filles jumelles et onze petits-enfants.