We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Ralph Edward Donaldson, CD (Ret'd) at his home in Lantz, NS, on 10 September 2026, at 92.
Born in Halifax, NS, Ralph joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at 19 and served for 27 years with the RCAF and the Canadian Military Engineers. Over the years, Ralph was stationed at; Winnipeg MB, Grostenquin (France), Ottawa ON, Greenwood NS, Chibougamu PQ, Red Deer AB, and then back to Ottawa. Ralph also deployed on a six-month tour with the United Nations peacekeepers in Ismailia, Egypt.
After his uniformed service, Ralph joined the Public Service and continued his engineering work at the National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa. After a second retirement, Ralph returned to his family roots in Nova Scotia.
Helping and volunteering were important to Ralph. He was a Mason and a Philae Shriner as a member of Elmsdale Masonic Temple (C.W. Saunders Lodge 125) and was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Some of the organizations he worked with were: Scouts Canada, the Anglican Church, Habitat for Humanity and the Royal Canadian Legion.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Monday, 14 September 2026, at Ettinger Funeral Home {2812 Highway 2, Shubenacadie, NS} from where a funeral service will be held 2:00 pm ATL (1 pm EST) on Tuesday, 15 September 2026.
No flowers, please. Memorial donations can be made to the Colchester East-Hants Hospice Society {89 Queen St, Truro, NS B2N 2B2)} Habitat for Humanity, The Victorian Order of Nurses, The Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.
A livestream of the funeral service can be viewed HERE.