McEwen, Hugh “Keith”

CPO1, CD, RCN/CF (Ret.)

Peacefully at the Elisabeth Bruyère Hospice in Ottawa, surrounded by his family, on Sunday August 5, 2012, in his 83rd year.

The son of William and Ada (Kearney) McEwen, Keith grew up on the family farm in Beckwith Township. He qualified as an aircraft mechanic at the Ottawa Flying Club at Uplands, where he first met Margaret. In 1949 he joined the RCN and spent much of his 35 year career on naval air squadrons at HMCS SHEARWATER and at sea, starting with an Avenger squadron in HMCS MAGNIFICENT. He was involved in the at-sea trials and initial operational deployment of Sea King helicopters from destroyers, and he was the Squadron Chief of HS-50 Sea King squadron. He also served on the Canada-Netherlands CF/NF-5 Fighter and AURORA Maritime Patrol Aircraft projects. From 1984-1989 he worked at Spar Aerospace in configuration management.

Keith leaves Margaret (Turpie), his cherished wife, partner, true love and strength for over 61 years; his five children - Hugh (Bonnie Bruce), John (Debbie Williams), Robert (Françoise Roy), Mary and Meagan; ten much-loved grand-children; and five treasured great-grand children. He was predeceased by his younger brother Fraser and is survived by his older brother Finley, and his wife Mary.

He was truly thankful for the wonderfully caring staff of the Ottawa Hospital Hemodialysis Unit, and the many medical professionals who helped him. He was devoted to family, loved his country, and brought a quiet, positive attitude to everything that he did. He was genuinely interested in people and in the world around him.

Friends are invited to visit the family at the Alan R. Barker Funeral Home, 19 McArthur Ave., Carleton Place, on Monday August 13, 2012, from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral service in the chapel at 1:00 p.m. Interment to follow at United Cemeteries.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, the Kidney Foundation, MS Society, or the Shearwater Aviation Museum, 12 Wing, P.O. Box 5000, Stn. Main, Shearwater NS, B0J 3AO.