We regret to advise of the death of Major Ronald James Nobbs, CD (Ret'd) on 6 April 2002 at the age of 63 years.
Ron started his military career in 1955 with the RCAF 418 (Reserve) Squadron in Edmonton as an Electronics Technician and as an instructor at 3054 (Reserve) Tactical Training Unit. He transferred to the RCAF Regular Force in 1957 and was posted to RCAF Station Gimli, MB where he converted to the Flight Simulator trade in 1960.
Returning to Edmonton, Ron was stationed at RCAF Station Namao from 1960 to 1967. While in Edmonton, Ron undertook two years of academic upgrading at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, graduating with a Technologist Diploma in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration and promoted to Corporal in 1966. During this training, Ron was awarded the International Nickel Company of Canada Scholarship for Academic Honours, and the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement.
In 1967, Ron was commissioned as Flying Officer and completed his Canadian Military Engineer Officer training in 1968. His early postings included 1 Construction Engineering Unit and Canadian Forces Station Barrington, NS. Promoted to Captain in 1970, Ron was posted to Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering, Chilliwack where he was an instructor for three years. Many will recall Exercise CFB Goodgrief that was much his creation.
Following the CFSME tour, Ron served from 1974 to 1976 as Staff Officer Military Engineering Training with the training headquarters in Winnipeg and Trenton. There then followed a series of assignments of increasing responsibility with the Construction Engineering Sections of CFB Trenton, CFB Calgary and the Wainwright detachment. During the period 1978 to 1981 Ron was the Detachment Commander of the Regional Government Emergency Headquarters facility at Nanaimo, BC.
Promoted to Major in 1984, Ron served for four years as Base Technical Services Officer at CFB Penhold. Posted next to Ottawa, Ron was Career Manager for Other Ranks Military Engineers during 1988 - 1990. Not surprisingly, Ron selected Edmonton as his final posting and served the last two years of his military career with 7 Canadian Forces Supply Depot in Edmonton as Co-ordinator for the Infrastructure Adjustment Program. Retiring in 1993, Ron stayed on with 7 CFSD for another two years as a consultant to complete the Infrastructure Adjustment Program project.
Ron was an active member of the Military Engineers` Association (where he served for several years as the Northern Alberta Branch President), the Edmonton Sappers Club, Kingsway Legion Branch, Retired Sappers Reunion and the Canadian Military Engineers Association.