Mr. Ronald Bruce ‘Ron’ Whiting of Penhold, Alberta passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2024 at the age of 79 years. Ron was born in Matsqui, British Columbia to Helen and Bruce Whiting on January 3, 1945, and was raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
The first job Ron had was setting pins in the bowling alley in Abbotsford. As he got older, he began working in the mill and logging industries, including West Fraser in Quesnel, loading boxcars with lumber by hand, and logging in the Coquihalla and Ashcroft areas. Then he worked at the Thompson Copper mine in Thompson, Manitoba with his older brother, Gordon. Unfortunately, the term of employment lasted for only two days before the mine went on strike. They were told “no pay” so they had to phone their brother Brian for money to get home. Brian wasn’t a happy camper about lending money to his two brothers, and to this day Brian says he wasn’t paid back….so the legend goes. Ron also worked for a moving company and Stewart Supplies in Penhold, Alberta. Ron’s biggest passion was truck driving. Ron worked with his nephew, Wilfred, hauling mail to Toronto, Ontario and on return trips picked up mail from Montreal, Quebec and hauled it back to Edmonton, Alberta. He covered most of the United States and eastern Canada. His wife, June, also enjoyed travelling with Ron occasionally when she could.
One of Ron’s other enjoyments was playing baseball, he played for the Penhold Pirates. He also loved camping with friends and family, getting together with family at reunions. Ron’s most favourite thing was hunting and fishing, as well as watching Grey Cups in his basement ‘tavern’ with friends and neighbors. He was also a collector of toy fire trucks. Ron was an avid reader of western novels while relaxing in his favorite chair, and while he watched hockey games and other sports, popcorn was always present. Ron and his brother Gordon loved cooking and protected their ‘recipes’, they were always quite adventurous in trying out new recipes. Their mom would always say, “you put too much stuff in there!”. Ron also liked enjoying a ‘cold one’ with whoever might happen to stop by. He also really enjoyed his 2009 Ford pickup truck, adding new ‘bling’ to it in November. Ron was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and loved trying to win the prizes! Ron and his brother Bob were quite protective of their sisters, and they watched over them as they were growing up. Always helping them as much as they could. Their sisters could always count on them for anything. Ron was very thoughtful; he would help neighbors with snow removal and help his family and friends. He was respected, honest, reliable, dependable, likable and a hard worker.
Ron is lovingly remembered by his wife, June, his daughter, Rhonda, his stepson, Marvin, his daughter-in-law, Sandra, and his seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He will also be sadly missed by his brothers, Gordon (Lorraine) Rowley and Brian Rowley, and his sister, Laura Brown (Lance), as well as his brother-in-law, Elmer Lumley (Margaret), and sister-in-law, Margaret Whiting (Bill).
Ron was predeceased by his parents Helen and Bruce Whiting, a daughter, Kimberley, and a grandson, Ronnie Whiting, as well as his brothers, Clifford Rowley, Robert Whiting, and sister, Linda Folster, a sister-in-law, Janet Rowley and a stepson, Clayton Fadden.
A Celebration of Ron’s Life was held on Monday, December 23, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Innisfail United Church, 4720 – 48 Avenue, Innisfail, Alberta. If desired, Memorial Donations in Ron’s honor may be made to the Ronald McDonald House at 5002 – 39 Street, Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 2P2 or at www.rmhcalberta.org or to S.T.A.R.S at 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, Alberta T2E 8M7 or at www.stars.ca. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006

• Date : 2024-12-28
• Location : (Penhold) LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com