Gordon Dulmage WATSON

WATSON, Gordon Dulmage Peacefully in hospital with family on July 15th, 2007 in his 91st year. He will be dearly missed by his children John (Mary) of Vancouver, James of Oshawa, Elizabeth Hill (Clyde), grandsons Adam (Christine) and Michael of North Gower, Kathleen (Bryan) of Calgary and David of Richmond as well as many nephews and nieces and their children. He was predeceased by his wife Margaret and brother Harold. Gordon had a B.A. Degree in Honours Physics from the University of Saskatchewan and an M.A. in Anthropology (Archaeology) from Trent University. He had a tremendous love of Canada and served his country throughout his life. He joined the Army C.O.T.C. at the U. of Sask. and was assigned by the DND as instructor of Radar Training for Navy and Air Force officers at the University of Western Ontario. He was posted to the Artillery Proof Establishment where he conducted scientific tests for ammunition during WWII. He was Deputy Superintendent of the Internal Ballistics Laboratory and was Scientific Observer during the winter of 45-46 on the joint Canadian Army-RCAF Exercise "Musk-ox" which traveled 2800 miles by snowmobile in the Arctic to test Army ground equipment. After the war, he and Margaret moved to Dayton, Ohio when he was posted to the US Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He also had various assignments, some of which included, Defence Research Attache, Canadian Embassy, Washington, D.C., Chief of Personnel and Chief of Plans, Defense Research Board, Ottawa. He was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1953 and Centennial Medal in 1967. Following his retirement, Gordon completed his M.A. at Trent. Since 1975, he has participated in an archaeological research program involving excavating Aboriginal sites as old as 10,000 years. He has published reports in the archaeological journals of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He was a founding member of the Ontario Archaeological Society (Ottawa Chapter). He was awarded the J. Norman Emerson Silver Medal, the Peggi Armstrong Public Archaeology Award and the Spirit of Trent Award for his outstanding contributions toward archaeological research. Gordon was active in church and community affairs. He has served on the Board of the Victorian Order of Nurses and the Social Planning Council of Ottawa-Carleton. Gordon will be remembered as a person who gave much more to this world than he ever took. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 21st at 12 noon at St. Aidan's Church, 955 Wingate Drive K1G 1S9. A private interment service will be held at Beechwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Aidan's Church, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Diabetes Association or to a charity of the donor's choice. Gordon was particularly thankful to the members of St. Aidan's Church for their friendship and best wishes and to Father Francis Whitten for all his kindness and support. The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to Gordon's caregivers Helen Taberos, Pamela Nagac and Carol Quarterman. Special thanks to all medial personnel who cared for Gordon. Published in the Ottawa Citizen from 7/18/2007 - 7/19/2007