RAY WILTON

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RAY WILTON Ray (Raymond Gilbert) Wilton, husband of Donna Kristjanson and father of Diana, Megan and Shauna, died on Friday, April 13, 2001 at the Victoria Hospital. Ray had cancer. Rays life and our memories of him will be forever present in Donna, their children Diana and Megan, Rays daughter Shauna and her partner Lech, Rays parents Gilbert and Alice Wilton, brother Greg Wilton, Linda Kristjanson and Joe Kuypers and their children Andrew, Julia and Laura (Marty), Bill and Liz Kristjanson and their children Shannon and Kevin, Ellen Kristjanson and Vic Unruh and Amanda, mother-in-law Joan Kristjanson and so many friends who are our family. Ray was predeceased by his sister-in-law Eunice. Ray was born in Winnipeg June 26, 1952 and grew up in Fort Garry. Ray earned his B.A. and M.A. at the University of Manitoba and PhD from the University of Alberta. Rays passion for words, for poetry and language were integral to his self. He taught English at the University of Manitoba, wrote, edited, designed web pages and curricula and was recently working on curriculum development for Red River Community College. Nothing about Ray was a cliche and Ray asked that I not try to define him. In Rays words, "I think that the presence of death does bring the presence of life, something too much avoided in our culture. I look out my window and see the same old street as if for the first time. Dying is beyond comprehension. The sense of loss so big, an unfathomable silence. But there is what I would call a coming home, a return to who you are, I think for all of us. That sadness in our days, but sometimes now we laugh till we cry, and find such joy in each other. Making home that is ours." Thank-you Dr. J.P. Donnelly, Dr. Hubert Marr, Anne Anderson, Dr. Ian Maxwell, Dr. Keith Jones, Jill Taylor Brown, Donna Richardson, Ron Long, nurses Pat, Debbie and Margaret, Dr. V. Taraska, the staffs everywhere at the Victoria Hospital, E3 Riverview Health Centre, Wildwood Medical Clinic, for caring for and about Ray. Thank-you also to the people of Fort Garry School Division, Red River Community College, Rockwood School and so many others who have shown us such compassion and kindness. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 19 at 4:30 p.m. in Thomson Funeral Chapels, 669 Broadway. Rays ashes will be buried at Glenboro, Manitoba a place of history, story and family for Ray. THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 16, 2001