Ronald McDonald, the real person, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 87 years of age.
He was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Dorothy, in 2010 and his brother Winston in 1991. Ron is survived by his children, Sandra (Jim Lochhead), James, and Edward (Michele Sawatzky); grandchildren, Caitlyn and Austen McDonald and Janet and Richard Hughes; sisters, Lorraine Forrester, Marian Steele and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ron was born in Hamiota, Manitoba and their family moved to Edmonton shortly thereafter. Ron graduated from Victoria Composite High School then studied engineering at the University of Alberta. His studies were interrupted in his second year with a bout of meningitis; however, he completed a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1955.
His career took him to Hamilton with General Electric; however, he returned to Edmonton shortly thereafter and was employed by Canadian Utilities (later ATCO) as a Transmission and Distribution Engineer. His work took him throughout Alberta and in 1973 he completed a post graduate program at the University of Pennsylvania. Ron retired in 1984.
Shortly after returning to Edmonton from Hamilton he met Dorothy at a Y’s Men’s Club event (not to be confused with a “wisemen’s club”!); they married in 1958 and children began arriving thereafter.
Ron was not a particularly athletic individual although he did enjoy curling then walking the family dog, Scamp, as well as swimming regularly at the Coronation pool in his later years. Ron’s strengths were his keen intellect – he was a voracious reader, reading four newspapers daily as well as numerous books on an eclectic range of topics. Dinnertime debates were lively, but always respectful, and it was difficult to outmatch Ron as he was well versed in a variety of topics. Ron also was a man of compassion who always kept in mind the plight of those less fortunate.
Besides reading and swimming, his hobbies included amateur radio (VE6 AFI), railroads (as a result of his university summer employment with the Northern Alberta Railway), a continued interest in the engineering profession and his weekly gatherings on Thursdays and Fridays with his coffee buddies.
Ron lived a full life and was aided by a host of health care professionals and staff, particularly over the past half dozen years. We are indebted to our incredible heath care system but in particular Dr. Jeff Robinson, The Corner Pharmacy in west Edmonton, Shepherd’s Care Kensington and Hardisty Care Centre.
In light of the current health crisis and in the spirit of caution that Ron, as a Professional Engineer would wholeheartedly agree, a memorial will be held at a later date.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ronald Walter Edward McDonald P Eng 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta