Obituary Overview
In Loving Memory
Arlene Alice Woodrow died in her 94th year on February 15, 2018 at the Orchard Villa Long Term Care in Pickering, Ontario. As the wife of a Squadron Leader (major) in the Royal Canadian Air Force, she spent many years living on or near air bases in Ontario, Manitoba and Ohio. Arlene was born and raised in and near London. Ontario, the oldest of two children of John Frederick and Anne Jane (Windover) Thorp. Arlene was working at London Life when she met John Heath Woodrow at the resort town of Grand Bend and they married on Canada Day (July 1st) 1948. He was studying engineering at the University of Toronto, after serving in the air force in WW II and, after graduation, rejoined the air force. They had two children, Judith Anne (Surridge) and Bruce David. Arlene initially devoted herself to homemaking, child raising, the social obligations of the spouse of a military officer and volunteer work. However, once Judie was in junior high school and Bruce was in Grade 4, she returned to school and obtained her certification as an elementary school teacher. Her age, loving nature and experience raising her own children made her popular with her young students. While John was stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio, he and Arlene took up both golf and duplicate bridge, activities that they pursued enthusiastically into retirement, which found them dividing their time between condos near Hamilton, Ontario and Fort Pierce, Florida (snow birds). When John died in 2002, Arlene even took over (reluctantly) the computerized record keeping for their duplicate bridge club. They were both fans of the Toronto Blue Jays and several anniversaries were celebrated with family at the sports facility formerly known as The Skydome. Arlene is survived by her daughter Judith (Terry Surridge) and son Bruce (Marianne Moershel); grandchildren Erich Fox (Rae), Matthew Fox, Scott Surridge (Terri Lynn) and Alex Surridge; great-grandchildren Xavier Fox, Leonard Fossat and Benjamin Surridge; sister-in-law Marcelle Thorp; and nephews David, Gerald, Jim and Peter Thorp. She is predeceased by her husband John, and brother William Thorp.
A visitation and remembrance will be held on Sunday, February 18, from 2 to 5 pm at the McEachnie Funeral Home in Ajax. Arlene’s children wish to thank the staff of Orchard Villa Long Term Care and Homewell Senior Care for the care and support they provided in her later years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a worthy cause of your choice.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Arlene Alice Woodrow 2018.source
Death notice for the town of: Ajax, Province: Ontario