Fredrick Thornton

THORNTON, Fredrick (Fred) July 11, 1927 -June 28, 2008 Fred (Buddy) was born July 11, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. He moved with his mother and father to Trimdon Station, County Durham, England at 2 years of age. Fred schooled until 14 years of age when he went to work in the coal mines. A big football (soccer) fan, he played for fun. He moved to North America in the early fifties. Initially working in the mines in the Yukon, he eventually settled in Toronto, Ontario where he met his lifelong love, Ruby Evelyn Barry. Ruby and Fred were married June 25, 1955 and settled in Scarborough, Ontario to raise four children, Michele, Carolyn, Brenda and David. Fred worked for more than 34 years as a Bridgeman for the City of Toronto, retiring in 1988. He also spent many hours at CUPE local 43 Union Hall. Fred loved to travel, there were many trips 'over the pond', and throughout the U.S. and Canada to visit family and friends. Fred and Ruby enjoyed a Caribbean cruise prior to her passing, January 4, 1983. Fred never remarried, remaining faithful to Ruby's memory. Due to Alzheimer's, Fred spent the last 5 1/2 years at Hillsdale Estates in Oshawa, Ontario. Left to cherish his memories are his 4 children: Michele and husband Larry (Kowalchuk), Carolyn and husband David (Chew), Brenda and husband Peter (Rappos), and David and fiancie Hailey; 10 grandchildren, Nicole, Joshua and Marie Kowalchuk, Corey, Kandice and Dylan Chew, Kramer and Charvelle Rappos, Matthew and Sara Thornton; and 3 great-grandchildren, Mikayla, Cadence and Jade Murray, as well as sister Jean and husband Ted Lee, many nieces, nephews, adoptive grandchildren, and many cherished friends. Fred is predeceased by 2 brothers, father Ernest Thornton, mother Mildred Davison (Henderson), wife Ruby Thornton (Barry). Fred passed away early in the morning June 28, 2008 after a long battle with Alzheimer's and Cancer. Dad, we love and will greatly miss you, and are so very proud to call you DAD. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 from 7-9 p.m. at the COURTICE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 1587 Highway 2, Courtice, 905-432-8484 (corner of Highway 2 and Sandringham Dr.). A Funeral Service will be held at the Courtice Funeral Chapel on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Interment of Fred's cremated remains will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society or the Cancer Society in honour of Fred's memory. On-line condolences or expressions of sympathy may be made at www.courticefuneralchapel.com