RICHARD JAMES SUTTON

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RICHARD JAMES SUTTON On July 18, 2008 Richard James Sutton, aged 86 years shrugged off his mortal coil (or as he would have put it kicked the bucket ). He was born in Winnipeg and attended Glenwood School, Glenlawn Collegiate and St. John's College School. Knowing a safe thing when he saw it, he joined the RCAF as an Aero Engine Mechanic in 1941 and served until 1945. On return to Winnipeg, he attended the Winnipeg Provincial Normal School 1945/46 and then went to The Stout Institute, Menominie WI from 1946 to 1949 graduating with a Bachelor of Science. He began his teaching career at the Dauphin Collegiate and Technical Institute (DCTI) from 1949 to 1954. He attended Stout again from 1954 to 1955 and was awarded his Master of Science. Just to prove you can teach an old dog new tricks, he received his Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1972 after many years of night courses. From 1956 to 1963 he taught at Neelin High School in Brandon and then was asked by the Manitoba Department of Education to join a group of Manitoba teachers who were setting up a teacher training college for Industrial Arts teachers in Malaysia. On return to Winnipeg in 1966, he joined the staff of Winnipeg School Division #1 and taught at Kelvin HS, Cecil Rhodes JHS, Sisler HS, Grant Park HS and finally Churchill HS before retiring in 1984. Over the years, he taught thousands of students not to get their fingers too close to the bandsaw and that you needed to paint the bottom of your toolbox if you wanted to get a pass on your project. While in Brandon and Dauphin, he was active with 50 and 82 Squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, retiring in 1963 as Chief Instructor for 82 Squadron with the rank of Flying Officer. He was a member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, the Winnipeg Teachers' Association and was a Past Master of Friendship Lodge #165 AF AM in Winnipeg. He was passionate about history and was a member and donor to the St. Vital Historical Society and the Winnipeg Railway museum, as well as a volunteer at the Manitoba Museum for many years. As long as there was something on the History Channel all was right with his world. He had a joke for every occasion and it's certain his first words to St. Peter were So you're an angel. I know a joke about angels you'll like. Predeceased by his loving wife Anne in 2004, he leaves his son Jim, daughter-in law Lisa and granddaughter Claire to cherish the time they had with him. Cremation has already taken place and there is no service planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Quagga Stray Cat Rescue, 970 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 26, 2008