RONALD “BOB” BROOKER

Ronald Woods Brooker, known to most as Bob Brooker, passed away on June 27, 2024, just a few weeks shy of his 101st birthday.
He was born on July 10, 1923, in Waltham St. Lawrence, England; the son of Gilbert Brooker and Alicia Mary Woods.
His early life was marked by the influence of his mother, who passed away during his childhood. Throughout his life he maintained a strong fondness for all things Irish due to her Irish heritage. His father remarried, and Bob gained a half-brother John, who lived in England with his wife Ann. Bob was predeceased by his brother Harry in 1981.
Bob married Dorothy (Dot) Petherick on Dec. 20, 1952, a union that lasted until her passing in 1994. In 2001, he married Evelyn Jarvis who died in 2018.
At the age of 15, Bob joined the Royal Engineers as an apprentice tradesman in 1939, serving as a sapper (a military engineer) during World War II. In the early days of his service, a bomb exploded nearby, damaging his eardrums and leading to a life-long hearing impairment. Despite this, he served his country with distinction until his discharge in 1946 and was a proud veteran, rarely missing a Remembrance Day ceremony – even in recent years.
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both wheelwrights and master carpenters, Bob pursued a career in carpentry. He later worked in the British Civil Service, supervising major building projects. His tremendous talent and craftsmanship came through in all of his projects, but most notably during the construction of the Widgey III, a boat he meticulously built over 20 years in his garage in England and eventually launched in Owen Sound.
In 1984, Bob and his first wife, Dorothy, emigrated to Canada, settling in Kincardine. In Canada, Bob continued his passion for building and painting, leaving a lasting mark on the homes of his family, including the tree house that still stands in the backyard of 817 Victoria Street.
Bob was also a dedicated supporter of the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. He built numerous rocking horses for fundraisers, actively promoted the organization, and collected donations for many years. His commitment to the cause was highlighted by his bond with Jill, a guide dog dropout he adopted in 1990 and who became his constant companion for many years.
Known to family, friends and most of the community in Kincardine as “Uncle Bob”, he took great pleasure in spending time with his family. A beloved uncle of Alan, Bruce, Clive and Roger Thomson and Susan Turner, great uncle and a grandfather figure to Jessie and Mike and the greatest of great-great uncles to Henry, Bea, Ruth, Rose and Emery. He was a constant presence in their lives and was tremendously proud of their accomplishments and adventures. Bob will also be missed by great-nieces and great-nephews Sarah, Kate, Mark, Sally, Jennifer, Christopher, Shawn and Naidra and by his many great-great-nieces and nephews.
He also kept up a regular email correspondence with his cousins Pauline Blundy, Diane Ashe and Lucy Newsome right up to the end of his life.
He will be missed by many friends who often commented about seeing him tooting around town in his Mini Cooper. Bob always said “If you want to make friends, get a dog and if you want to make a lot of friends get a Mini.”
Special thanks to Christine Franklin and to all the staff at Rosewood Rvilla, who made his last few years so much more comfortable and happier; and to Dr. Scott and Dr. Murray who took such good care of him, especially over the last few years.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 34 Penetangore Row South, Kincardine at 2 p.m. on July 27, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be made to the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, 4120 Rideau Dr. N., Manotick, ON K4M 1A3.
Arrangements entrusted to the Davey-Linklater Funeral Home in Kincardine; www.daveylinklaterfuneralhome.com.