WARREN LEGGE GARTH

GARTH WARREN LEGGE
1922-2007 The Rev. Dr. Garth Warren Legge, beloved husband of Joyce Marie McCammon Legge and a retired minister of The United Church of Canada and former General Secretary of its Division of World Outreach, died in his 85th year on Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at Toronto Western Hospital. Born July 25, 1922 in Toronto, Ontario, he graduated from Victoria College, University of Toronto in 1942 and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, in which he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1944. After the end of the Second World War he studied at The Sorbonne, University of Paris and at Emmanuel College, University of Toronto; in 1949 he was awarded the M.Div. and was ordained a minister of The United Church of Canada. He commenced doctoral studies at New College, University of Edinburgh, Scotland and earned a Ph.D. in 1951. From 1952 through 1959 he served United Church pastoral charges in northern Ontario and Quebec, and from 1959 through 1964 he worked as a missionary in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and as Moderator of the United Church of Central Africa. From 1965 until his retirement in 1987, he worked in the United Church's Division of World Outreach and served as its General Secretary 1977-1987. Following his retirement he served the Canadian Council of Churches as Acting General Secretary, 1988, and Acting Associate Secretary, 1989-90. He was also an ecumenical monitor for the first postapartheid elections in South Africa in 1994. Throughout his life, he was a dedicated and tireless minister of the gospel and advocate for social and racial justice. He received numerous honours, including the honourary D.D. from both Victoria University in the University of Toronto, 1979, and United Theological College, McGill University, 1986; he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1999. In addition to his wife of 58 years, he is survived by his sister, Helen, of Nanticoke, Ontario; by his son, Murray, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, and two daughters, Marilyn, of Toronto, Ontario, and Valerie, of Montreal, Quebec; by four grandchildren, Matthew, Jean-Pascal, Laura, and Violaine; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Bruce. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 2:00 pm at Trinity-St. Paul's United Church, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Garth and Joyce Legge Fund for Global and Contextual Theological Education, Emmanuel College, 75 Queen's Park Crescent East, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1K7, or to a charity of your choice.