Obituary of Thomas Arthur B.E.M. Loten

LOTEN, Thomas Arthur, B.E.M. 1910 ~ 2008 S.Sgt. RCAMC 5th Field Ambulance 1st Division, 2nd Brigade 1939 ~ 1945 Thomas Arthur Loten of FitzroyHarbour, formerly of Dundas, Ontario passed away on April 19 2008, in his 99th year at the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital He is predeceased by his beloved wife Kathleen (1990); his parents Henry Stanley Loten and Roseanna Wood Mason, his brothers R. Page (Grace), William (Muriel) and his sisters Eileen (in infancy), Stella (George) Scargall and Adele (Len) Hudson He is survived by his children Amy (Bill) Newell, Fitzroy Harbour; John (Liz), Calabogie; and Nancy, Woodlawn; his grandchildren Wendy (Kevin) Mayhew, Fitzroy Harbour; Bill (Lisa Cantera) Newell, Timmins; Christopher (Jodi) Loten, Burlington; Kevin (Louise) Loten, Burlington; and Sarah Loten, Arnprior; his great grandchildren Darren and Liam Mayhew, Sydney Loten, Alexandra and Jacob Loten; his sister-in-law Muriel Loten, many nieces and nephews, and cousins in England Tom was born on January 27, 1910 in Hornsea, Yorkshire, England and emigrated with his family in 1925 to homestead in Traynor, Saskatchewan There he met and married the love of his life, Kathleen Edenborough. They moved to Greensville, outside Dundas, Ontario in 1937 and then into Dundas in 1939. When war broke out in Europe Tom, his brother Bill and his two brothers-in-law George and Len enlisted and went overseas on the first shipload of Canadian Army personnel to Britain in November 1939. Tom served with distinction in the medical corps on the front lines in Sicily and Italy, notably during the battles for Monte Cassino, Ortona and the Liri Valley and was awarded the British Empire Medal. After the war he joined his father, brothers and brothers-in-law to form the Loten Construction Company in Dundas. The company built houses from the late 40's until the early 60's throughout Southern Ontario. From 1965 to 1975 Tom worked for the Wentworth County Board of Education. When he retired in 1975 he and Kathleen moved to Fitzroy Harbour in the Ottawa Valley and lived in a trailer home on his daughter and son-in-law's farm. In the family tradition of service to God and community, in Dundas Tom was an elder at St. Paul's United Church and a long-time member of the Lion's Club. He continued his commitment to others as an elder at St. Andrew's United Church in Fitzroy Harbour, by becoming a founding member of both the Fitzroy Harbour Senior Citizen's Club and the Galetta Lawn Bowling Club. He was a moving force in the construction of "The West Carleton", a seniors' residence in Carp, and served as an early president of the board of directors. Tom introduced carpet bowling to many of the seniors' clubs in Ottawa and the Valley. In his 80's he delivered Meals on Wheels to "old people" younger than himself who were housebound. In recent years he recorded his memoirs of life in Saskatchewan, his early years in Dundas, his war years and life in the Ottawa Valley, as a legacy for his family. He was fiercely independent, dedicated to his family, of whom he was very proud, and strong in his faith. The family wishes to express its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Earl Gordon and all the caregivers at the Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital for their compassionate care. Arrangements entrusted to Boyce Funeral Home Ltd. Chapel,Visitation & Reception Centre 138 Daniel St. N., Arnprior, Ontario At Tom's request, there will be no visitation Cremation has taken place MEMORIAL FUNERAL SERVICE Will be held to celebrate with joy and thanksgiving his long and distinguished life will be held at St. Andrew's United Church in Fitzroy Harbour on Monday, April 28, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. FELLOWSHIP & REFRESHMENT Following service at the Fitzroy Harbour Community Centre He will be greatly missed by all who ever knew him MEMORIAL DONATIONS In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations to be made to the "Partners in Caring Foundation" at the Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital or St. Andrew's United Church, Fitzroy Harbour