Donald Rankin

RANKIN, Donald Alexander July 11, 1913 - March 25, 2010 Donald Alexander Rankin died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Thursday, March 25, 2010 in his 97th year. He was born on SW Mabou Ridge, Mabou, Cape Breton on July 11, 1913. When he was a young person he lived with the village doctor, Dr Kennedy, after his own father died, and accompanied the doctor on his calls around the countryside (he was pleased as punch to have learned to drive at the age of 12). Donald started his education in a one-room school house and completed degrees at St. Francis Xavier and Queen's Universities. He served overseas in the Canadian Army during World War II (where he had the opportunity to visit Scotland for the first time and amaze people that, although he was a Canadian, he was fluent in Gaelic). In 1943 he married Mary Eunice Macdonald. After the war he worked in the Department of Justice and the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. He had many interesting stories of investigating price fixing in the manufacturing industry, sometimes accompanied by an RCMP officer. During this period he had four daughters, and in 1956 was able to move from an apartment into a new home and there he stayed for the next 48 years. He really loved his house and it was always a meeting place for family and friends. Upon retirement he taught Gaelic, his beloved native tongue, in Alexandria, Ontario. He volunteered at the Civic Hospital in Ottawa. He visited his immediate and extended family in BC, Ontario and Cape Breton. His love of Scottish music and traditions involved him in the Fiddler's Club and Gaelic Society as well as a few more visits to Scotland. He was a fan of the Highland Games and attended any that he could get to. And he loved a little snifter when he was in the company of family and friends. When he moved to West Park Long Term Care in Toronto after an illness, he greatly appreciated all the visits and phone calls he received (and the gifts of Scotch!). Donald is predeceased by his wife Mary Eunice (Macdonald), his brothers Angus, Johnnie and Kenneth and his sisters Catherine and Sadie (MacIsaac). He is survived by his four daughters Loretto Ann, Bernardette (Eric), Catherine and Margaret; and two granddaughters Kala (Alf) and Catherine Rose; his brother-in-law Hector MacIsaac, and his sisters-in-law Kay Rankin and Loretto Macdonald; as well as many loved cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. For his immediate family, words that describe Donald are "unconditional love", and for family and friends always "a hundred thousand welcomes" and "a good friend, and could he ever tell the stories". The family would like to thank the staff at West Park Long Term Care in Toronto for their loving care. Friends may pay respects at the Kelly Funeral Home, 2313 Carling Avenue (west of Carlingwood) Tuesday, March 30 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Wednesday, March 31, to St Basil's Church for Mass of Christian Funeral at 10 a.m. Interment Capital Memorial Gardens. www.kellyfh.ca