Obituary of Ian Ormston

Ian Campbell Ormston passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 23, 2010, at the age of 89. He is survived by his daughters Leslie Ormston and Diana (John) Spearn and son Charles (Elaine) Ormston. He had nine grandchildren: Derek and Michael; Blair, Brooke, Maxwell and Ainslie; and Jennifer, Melanie and Ashley. He also had several great-grandchildren. Ian was predeceased by his wife, Marguerite (2000), his mother, Dorothy (1939), and his father, Charles Mowbray (1945), as well as his two brothers, Leslie (1921) and Roger (1938), and his sisters, Ursula (1969) and Eleanor (2005). Ian was born in Montreal, Que., on June 27, 1921. He had an adventurous spirit, which was evident when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 19. He went on to become one of the youngest commanding officers in the air force (No. 411 Squadron). Ian flew over the English Channel more than 200 times during the Second World War, and crashed into the cold waters once. One of his "boys" hovered in the air above him though, so he knew he would be rescued. His heroics during the war resulted in him being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross from King George VI at Buckingham Palace. Ian often commented that the king was not an easy man to make conversation with. Ian returned to Canada in 1943 - in a body cast - and later married Marguerite Lang. They moved a few times before settling in Kitchener, Ont., where he eventually started a successful company called Inter-City Welding Supplies. Family was the most important thing to Ian. He spent most of his time with his children and grandchildren at his farm - Sportsman Hill - outside of Blair, Ont. In his later years, Ian doted upon his beloved corgi, Sarah. He also had a lifelong passion for horses that endured until his dying day. On his deathbed he said: "What a beautiful day for a horse race." A service for Ian's family and friends will be held at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, at 23 Water St. N., in Kitchener, Ont., on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the church's hall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ian's memory can be made to his charity of choice: KidsAbility Foundation - Ormston Family Fund. They can be arranged through the Erb and Good Family Funeral Home. For more information, please go to www.erbgood.com or call 519-745-8445.