Obituary of Harry Baggs

BAGGS, HARRY 'ROY' March 6, 1915 - October 15, 2010.Born in Toronto, Ontario, at 784 Euclid Avenue, a descendent of the Sheepway and McQuarry families. Predeceased by his wife Gladys Vera Hopkins (1984), his parents Joseph Archibald Baggs (1940) and Maude Eleanor Sheepway (1987), a brother John Edwin (1976), a sister Nellie Clare (1918). He is survived by a sister Hilda Doreen Powell and by a nephew Wayne Roy Powell, both of Toronto. Roy is also survived by his most precious, devoted and special friend, companion and confidant of 26 years, Edith Rossetto, and by friends Gordon and Doreen McKenna, Linda, Rudy, Katharine and Michael Sobschak. As a young boy, Roy suffered a severe case of rheumatic fever but grew to be a big guy 6' 2" tall. Roy raised pigeons, assisted his father in the home operation vinegar business and saved newspapers to sell to the local fish and chips dealers. Later he advanced to Willard Chocolates Printing Dept. - his first "real" job. His chocolate consumption gave him so much energy that he also ran a small printing business of his own, in the evenings. Chocolate and Roy were very good friends for the rest of his life. From a young man until he retired, Roy had an interesting employment history. Willard Chocolates - Printing Dept. (And eating chocolate)John Inglis - Bren Guns and Armaments Noma Manufacturing of Owen Sound - Production Manager and was responsible for getting into production the then "new" Christmas Bubble Lights Roy then moved on to Western Ontario Industrial Relations Institute in Sarnia, and was placed at Muellers, implementing a New Wage Incentive Plan (bonus plan). During this period, Roy was offered a job with the Ford plant in Windsor, and with UAW but declined both offers. In all the years that we knew Roy, he drove Ford cars. Following those adventures, and after investigation by the RCMP, he was given an "A" Security to be employed with A. V. ROE OF CANADA (AVRO) in the Industrial Engineering Department, then advanced to Production Manager of the Engine Plant (Orenda Engines) supervising 1,000 people, He held this job for many years until on Friday, February 20, 1959, by way of a public address system announcement, everyone in the plant was laid off (fired). Roy left with his crew only to receive a telephone call at home ordering him to return to work. Roy and Gladys moved to St. Catharines in 1965 when Roy was hired at TRW (Thompson Products) as Industrial Engineering Manager, a position he held for 7 years, retiring in 1972 at age 57. In later life, Roy was always so pleased to have been retired for more years than he had worked as an adult. An ambitious man, he was "Always looking for a better job" - and succeeded in this endeavour. His life changed once more after meeting Edith. As travelling companions they toured Western Canada, had many bus trips and vacations at lodges and Edith introduced Roy to Las Vegas. He had warm memories of these holidays. In his later years, Roy was afflicted with macular degeneration, a condition he handled with admirable grace, was declared legally blind receiving his special cane and a free local transit bus pass which he used reluctantly, preferring to be driven in his trusty Ford car. The elements of age, blindness and deafness combined to make his last couple of years difficult but on his mostly good days, he was happy to reminisce and had a good sense of humour. George Darte Funeral Chapel, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines were entrusted with Roy's wish for cremation. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 2nd in the Chapel at Niagara Ina Grafton Gage Home. At a later date, inurnment of his cremated body will take place at Park Lawn Cemetery, Toronto. If desired, memorial donations to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, St. Alfred Out-of-the-Cold Program or charity of choice. The family says "Thank you" to Ina Grafton for your many years of attention to Roy -- PSW's, maintenance personnel, nursing staff and administration; CCAC; St. Elizabeth and General Hospital Nurses; St. Catharines Para Transit; Niagara Specialized Transit and Red Cross drivers and administration; Dr. J. Gregg & staff; Juravinski Cancer Centre; Canon Gordon Kinkley and Pastor Henry Goerzen; Family and Friends who offer so much kindness and compassion. Roy was our "Family" member for 26 years. Though he never had children, he watched our daughter Linda grow into a young woman, marry Rudy and saw their children, Katharine and Michael, grow into young adults. He was a good man and will be missed by Edith, Gordon, Doreen, Rudy, Linda, Katharine and Michael. Dear Roy, enjoy the bright light in the arms of the Lord. Rest in peace.