Date de Décès: 2004-05-29
Date de Parution: 2004-10-10
Source: Canoe.ca (Obituaries Today)
Rev Glenn Jackson Ashford - October 27, 1931 - May 29, 2004 72, passed away in Dartmouth General Hospital on May 29, 2004. Born in Indore, Central India, October 27, 1931, Glenn was the youngest of three sons of the late Rev. H.E.D. "Herb" and Evelyn (Jackson) Ashford. He received his early schooling first at home, then at Woodstock Boarding School in the Lower Himalayas. Following their return to Canada, when Glenn was about ten years of age, the family settled in Calgary, where his father served Scarboro United Church before enlisting in the R.C.A.F. as a padre. The remainder of Glenn's public schooling was in Calgary, where he was an honours student, avid tennis player, downhill skier and ski jumper until a bout with polio ended his athletic pursuits. Following Glenn's high school graduation, the family moved to Charlottetown and Glenn entered Mount Allison University, graduating in 1952 with a B.Sc., honours math and physics. Glenn married Marial "Sunny" Cole of Amherst, in 1953. He then worked for several years as an industrial engineer in Montreal and Toronto before entering Queen's Theological College, Kingston, Ontario, receiving his M. DIV. with honours. During his three years at Queen's Theological College, Glenn served the then student charge of Hay Bay, outside Napanee, Ont. After his ordination in 1959, he was settled at Chalmers United Church in Edmonton, Alta., remaining there for four years, followed by five years at Jasper United Church in Jasper National Park, Alta. Glenn and Sunny, with their three children, Colin, Valerie and Eric, then moved to New Jersey, where Glenn attended Drew University on full scholarship. For four years, he served Flanders United Methodist Church in Flanders, New Jersey. He received his M. Phil (Science and Religion) from Drew, returning with the family to Canada in 1973 where he had accepted a call to St. Andrews-by-the-Lake United Church in Kingston, Ont. After six years in Kingston, he served United Churches in Cobourg, Maidstone, Mississauga and Burlington, all in Ontario, before moving to Windsor, Nova Scotia, where he was an intentional interim minister. The next move took him to St. James United Church in Antigonish in 1991, retiring from there to Dartmouth in 1996. In all, Glenn had at various times throughout his life lived in eight of the ten provinces and in three countries. Glenn served the United Church in many capacities, including president of the Bay of Quinte Conference, member of many church committees at every level, including Presbytery, Conference and National. His on-going interest and concern in theological education and students resulted in his serving on committees relating to those interests. He had taught courses at Rutgers State University in New Jersey, chaplain's courses at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., and some teaching at Queen's Theological College in Kingston. He had also been a member of the Board of Management of Queen's Theological College, and served as its chairman. He was a past member of a barbershop quartet in Montreal, the Choral Society at Mount Allison University, as well as various choirs across Canada. He played piano and was a great lover of music, with eclectic tastes, but preferred classical and jazz. He had also served, for a term of three years, on the Board of Directors of the Dartmouth Community Concert Association. In addition to his other interests, Glenn loved motorcycles, selling his last in 1990. He was also an avid sailor and had owned, at times, two sailboats while living in Ontario. Glenn will long be remembered as a great preacher who provided much insight and food for thought; he was an excellent administrator, helpful counselor, and friend to many. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, especially by his wife of 50 years, Marial "Sunny" Cole; son, Colin and daughter-in-law Brenda (Bridget Kinsella); granddaughter, Catherine Clare Ashford, all of Toronto; daughter, Valerie Ashford, Kingston, Ont.; granddaughter, Ivy Johnson; son, Eric W.H. and daughter-in-law Glenda (Matthews); granddaughter, Hannah Kathleen Ashford, Dartmouth. He is also survived by brother, Rev. H. Ray Ashford, Kingston, Ont., and by many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by niece, Carolyn Ashford; nephew, Timothy Ashford; brother, Ian Ashford; sisters-in-law, Ruth and Phyllis. Cremation will take place in Atlantic Memorial Gardens, Dartmouth. A memorial service will be held in Woodlawn United Church, Dartmouth, on Sunday, June 6, at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow in the church hall. Participants will include Mrs. Diane Hill, Rev. Gordon Murray, long-time friend and colleague Rev. Iain Macdonald, and Glenn's brother Rev. H. Ray Ashford. Donations may be made in Glenn's memory to the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International or a charity of your choice.