Ralph Trafford

Trafford - Ralph John

"God gives us love. Something to love God lends us…"
In his 100th year, on December 23, 2018, Ralph left us for the great dance band in the sky - they needed a charming piano player with a song for every occasion, a taste for fiddleheads, and 101 uses for witch hazel! Many are there to meet him, including: wife Alice (née Balfour); daughter Anne; sons Alan and David; parents William Riley and Lauretta (née Van Dine); siblings Mary Walters and Vaughan; cousin David Trafford. Missing him are: daughter Mary (Susan Owen); daughter-in-law Linda Tremblay (late Alan), and sons Blake, Brian and Paul; son-in-law Roy Amodeo (late Anne); daughter-in-law Joyce (late David); sisters-in-law Betty McLean and Lesley Balfour in Edinburgh, Scotland; nieces, nephews, cousins in Canada, U.S.A., United Kingdom. Born in East Florenceville, New Brunswick, Ralph graduated from Mount Allison University (chemical engineering). A proud Second World War veteran (1941 to 1946), Ralph served in the Royal Canadian Artillery, Canadian Army, Survey Unit. He met and married his beloved war bride Alice in wartime Edinburgh. Ralph was a talented musician who loved entertaining; from age 16, he played in dance bands, including during his war service, to entertain the troops. Ralph had a successful career with Domtar, in Toronto, Montréal and Ottawa, settling in Manotick in 1965. Ralph was a dedicated community volunteer with Manotick Kiwanis and Legion. During a 2007 visit to Florenceville, Ralph had a cardiac arrest; intrepid sisters Debbie Taylor and Andrea Callahan saved his life. We are deeply grateful to them, and to: Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre (PRVHC), particularly staff of Rideau One South and Music Therapy Program; and caregiver Darlene. In honour of Ralph, hug someone dear, sing a song, use witch hazel, and smile smile smile! Friends may attend a visitation at the
Kars Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes
1610 Roger Stevens Dr., Kars, Ontario
on Wednesday, January 9, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held at Manotick United Church on Thursday, January 10, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception. Interment Capital Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Mount Allison University Class of ‘41 Bursary Fund www.mta.ca/donate/ and/or the PRVHC Foundation https://www.perleyrideau.ca. Tributes, condolences or donations may be made at www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com.