Obituary of Ralph-Frederick-Breach King

Peacefully on June 3, 2002, in the Ottawa Hospital (General) at age 80, Ralph F.B. King passed away with family members by his side. Ralph was the son of Ralph L.B. King and Agnes Elizabeth King of Burnaby, BC. He is survived by his loving wife, Edna; by his two sons, Ralph (Krystyna) of Ottawa and John (Rochelle) of Winnipeg; two grandchildren, Jessica and Jeffrey; and by his brother Robert (Beverley) of Fort Langley, BC. Ralph's extended family includes many cousins, nieces and nephews. He completed his early education at South Burnaby High School in Burnaby, BC, before entering the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Provincial Normal School. Here Ralph met his wife Edna (Hall) whom he married in 1943. During the Second World War, Ralph served as a navigation instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Returning to Canada at the end of the war, he resumed his studies at the University of British Columbia. By 1948 he completed an Honours degree in English Literature and the following year received a Teaching Fellowship at the University of Toronto. There Ralph completed his residence requirements for the doctoral program and began his teaching career. He taught at the Royal Military College in Kingston from 1955 to 1958, and then served as Head of the English Department at the Royal Roads Military College in Victoria. To this point his interest was in research and teaching. However, in 1963, Ralph accepted an invitation from President John E. Robbins to visit Brandon College where preparations were underway for separation from the University of Manitoba and for independent university status. In what proved to be a challenging and rewarding change of direction, Dr. King became the first Dean of Arts of this expanding new university. He also served as Head of the Department of English, and in 1971, was Acting President. Unfortunately, latent illness necessitated an early retirement and forced an end to his life-long academic pursuits. Brandon University conferred the status of Professor Emeritus upon Dr. Ralph King in 1988. Ralph and Edna King recently established a Brandon University Graduate Scholarship in perpetuity to encourage and support students aspiring to pursue post-graduate studies in English Literature. On June 8, 2002, Ralph's family held a private funeral service at the Tubman Funeral Home, 3440 Richmond Rd., Ottawa. Interment at the Highland Park (Pinecrest) Cemetery followed. The King family would like to express their deep gratitude to Pastor Allan MacLellan of Pleasant Park Baptist Church, Ottawa, for his compassionate guidance and for conducting the family service. The family would like to thank Dr. Collins, Dr. Hamilton and the other physicians who have cared for Ralph over many years. The family's appreciation is also extended to the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre, GEM Health Care Services Inc. and the palliative care team at the Ottawa Hospital (General) for their care and compassion. Donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Society, or the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre, Ottawa. The Ottawa Citizen, 29-06-2002